Star Opener Shikhar Dhawan Bids Farewell to Cricket

Indian cricket star Shikhar Dhawan has announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket. His childhood coach, Madan Sharma, expressed joy for Dhawan’s accomplished career. Dhawan's illustrious journey includes significant runs and memorable partnerships, celebrated with a heartfelt message on Instagram.

Following the retirement of star Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan, his childhood coach Madan Sharma conveyed his thoughts, expressing happiness over Dhawan's long career with the national team. Dhawan officially announced his retirement from both international and domestic cricket on Saturday.

Sharma reflected, "I feel sad that he will no longer play for the country, state, or IPL, but I am proud of his contributions to Indian cricket over the years. He performed superbly, securing many ICC trophies and carving a significant name for himself as an opener. Watching his entire career has been a proud experience for us." The 38-year-old Dhawan shared an emotional message on Instagram to declare his retirement, thanking everyone who supported him in his remarkable journey.

Dhawan said in his video, "I look back and see only memories, but a new life lies ahead. It was my dream to play for India, and I lived it thoroughly. I owe it to my family, childhood coaches, and teammates. As I say goodbye to cricket, I have peace in my heart because I played for my country." In his career, Dhawan was especially noted for his performances in ODIs, scoring 6,793 runs in 167 matches, including 17 centuries. His Test and T20I statistics also reflect remarkable achievements and memorable partnerships with players like Murali Vijay. Dhawan's domestic career underscores his prowess with substantial runs and numerous centuries in First-Class and List A cricket.

(With inputs from agencies.)