Dhawan announced his retirement in a post on social media.In a video message, Dhawan said, “It is important to turn the page to move forward in life and that’s why I am announcing my retirement from international and domestic cricket… I am leaving with peace in my heart that I played for so long for India. I tell myself not to feel sad that you will not play for India anymore, but to feel happy that you played for your country.”Although making debut for the senior men’s Indian team in 2010, Dhawan made his first mark in international cricket in 2013, in his Test debut against the mighty Australians in Mohali. He scored an 85-ball hundred, fastest by a debutant, and went on to score 187 runs in the innings.
However, his most stellar career stats came in One Day Internationals (ODIs). In 164 innings of 167 ODIs, Shikhar scored 6,793 runs at an impressive average of 44.11 and with a strike rate of 91.35. He became the second-fastest Indian to score 6000 runs in ODIs, only behind Virat Kohli. Dhawan achieved this feat in only 143 matches. He retires as one of only eight batters who have amassed over 5000 runs in the ODIs while maintaining an average above 40 and a strike rate exceeding 90.
But as he announced his retirement after being dropped from the Indian team for over a year and faded away unnoticed, the question that remains is: Once considered a modern-day great, what will be the legacy of Shikhar Dhawan? What ‘Gabbar’ of Indian cricket will be remembered for? The answer lies in his consistent and valuable performance in ICC tournaments, particularly ICC ODI events, World cup and Champions trophy.
2004 Under-19 World cup: Early signs
Long before making debut for the senior India team, Shikhar showcased his skills at Under-19 level. At the Under-19 World cup in Bangladesh in 2004, Dhawan finished as the highest run-getter in the tournament. He scored 505 runs with a strike rate of 93.51 and an average of 84.16.
Dhawan hit a total of three centuries and a half-century in the tournament and, although India lost to Pakistan in the semi-finals, he was named as Player of the Tournament. With 505 runs, Dhawan held the record of most runs in a single edition of Under-19 World cup until 2022, when South Africa’s Dewald Brevis broke it by scoring one more run.
ICC Champions Trophy, 2013: The making of Shikhar Dhawan
England & Wales hosted the Champions trophy in 2013. Before the Champions trophy, Dhawan played 5 ODIs for India between 2010 and 2011, having scored a mere 69 runs. However, his terrific performance in Test matches against Australia, in 2013, got him his place back into the ODI side.
Stats wise, 2013 was Dhawan’s best year in ODIs as he scored 1162 runs in 26 matches at an average of 50.52 with the strike rate of 97.89. So he didn’t just score runs, he scored them quickly. The cherry on top was his performance in 2013 CT.
After 2011, Dhawan got back into the ODI side in the 2013 Champions Trophy, as he was entrusted with the responsibility to open for India in the Champions Trophy. He grabbed the opportunity with both hands and scored 363 runs, most in the tournament, in just 5 outings.
Dhawan began his campaign with consecutive centuries against South Africa and West Indies, respectively. He then scored 48 against Pakistan, 68 against Sri Lanka, and in the rain-affected finals against host England he played a match-winning knock, scoring 31 off 24 balls.
His best knock came in the opening match of India against Proteas in Cardiff, where he smashed the likes of Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Rory Kleinveldt, and Ryan McLaren all around the ground, and scored his maiden ODI century. He eventually got out on 114, which came off in just 94 balls with one six and twelve fours.
With an average of 90.75 and strike rate of 101.39, Dhawan was selected as the player-of-the-tournament.
After collecting the player-of-the-tournament award, Dhawan said, “I’d dreamt of this, I’m really happy with it … The bouncy tracks suit my game. I worked hard in practice and in the warm-up games. It makes it more special because I was out of the side for a few years.”
ICC World Cup 2015: The rise and rise of Dhawan
As he became a key player in India’s ODI set-up following his brilliant performance in 2013 Champions trophy, Dhawan continued his good form in ODI World cup of 2015.
He started his campaign on a high note, scoring 72 runs against arch-rivals Pakistan in India’s opening match at Adelaide Oval. He also scored 2 centuries in the tournament, one against South Africa at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and another against Ireland.
His most glorious and pleasant knock of the tournament came against South Africa, again, at MCG. In all three previous encounters that India had with SA in World cups (1992, 1999, 2011), they were thrashed by the Proteas. In the 2015 World cup also, South Africa had a terrifying line-up with the likes of Steyn, Morkel, Imran Tahir, AB de Villiers, Faf, Hashim Amla, and de Kock in the team.
When India elected to bat first, it needed to put pressure on SA straight away. But Rohit Sharma got run out for a duck in the third over. The occasion was big, and the team was under pressure. Dhawan stood up to the occasion, he took on all the South African bowlers and built crucial partnerships with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane.
Dhawan scored 137 runs hitting 18 boundaries during his knock, including two sixes. India emerged victorious against South Africa, for the first time in World cups, by 130 runs.
Shikhar was India’s top scorer in the tournament with 412 runs in 8 matches, he scored them at an average of 51.50.
ICC Champions Trophy 2017: Onslaught continues
Shikhar’s bat continued to wreak havoc on opposition teams in Champions trophy 2017. Dhawan’s stellar performance in the Champions Trophy 2017 was a continuation of his form from the previous edition. He started the tournament with a solid 68 against Pakistan in the opening match.
In the following game against Sri Lanka, Dhawan showcased his batting skills by scoring a brilliant century, scoring 125 runs. He continued his good form against South Africa, contributing a valuable 78.
With 338 runs in 5 innings at an average of 67.60, Dhawan emerged as the top run getter in the tournament, which earned him the golden bat award for the second time in a row.
ICC World Cup 2019: The last dance
India began its World cup campaign on a positive note, comfortably emerging victorious against South Africa in the first group match. The next match was against Australia at The Oval. This match was significant considering the fact that Australia ended India’s World cup 2015 campaign in the semi-final.
Against a formidable bowling line-up comprising Starc, Coulter-Nile, and Pat Cummins, Dhawan exhibited the batting master-class of the highest order and scored a brilliant century. He went on to score 117 runs off 109 balls, hitting 16 fours during his innings, as India defeated Australia by 36 runs.
The century against Australia proved to be his last outing for India in ICC events, as he was ruled out for the rest of the tournament due to an injury.
An undisputable champion of ICC ODI events
As Shikhar Dhawan decided to hang his boots, it is hard to resist the fact that he has been an absolute clutch player for India as far as ICC ODI events are concerned.
Shikhar Dhawan’s performance in ICC 50-over tournaments, which include ODI World Cups and Champions Trophies, has been exceptional. In the 20 innings he played in these tournaments, he scored six centuries and crossed the 50-run mark on ten occasions.
Dhawan’s average in these tournaments is the highest among the 51 batters who have scored a minimum of 1000 runs, slightly surpassing Virat Kohli’s average of 64.55. The list includes the likes of Sir Vivian Richards, Saeed Anwar, and Kane Williamson.
When considering his performances in World Cups separately, Dhawan maintained an average of 53.70 across ten innings. His Champions Trophy record is even more remarkable, with an average of 77.88 over the same number of innings.
