NEW DELHI: Legendary India opener Sunil Gavaskar on Tuesday said that Shikhar Dhawan‘s retirement from all formats has left the sport ‘poorer’.
Gavaskar noted that injuries might have influenced Dhawan’s decision to step away from the game. Dhawan, fondly called ‘Gabbar’, was a prolific run-scorer across formats for India and in domestic leagues. Dhawan contributed significantly to India’s cricketing success over the years.
He scored 6,793 runs in 167 ODIs at an average of 44.11 and a strike rate of 91.35, including 17 centuries.
In Test cricket, Dhawan amassed 2,315 runs in 34 matches, with an average of 40.61, including seven centuries.
His T20I career saw him scoring 1,759 runs at a strike rate of 126.36.
“Shikhar Dhawan’s retirement from all forms of the game is going to leave the sport poorer than before. The ever-smiling, ever-positive Shikhar, also fondly called ‘Gabbar’, was a player of enormous talent. But as befalls opening batters, a lean series or tournament can mean the selectors wielding the axe.”
“In later years, injuries were part of Shikhar’s career, which seldom allowed him to fully display his skill and probably helped him make the decision to quit the game while he was still enjoying being part of the circuit,” wrote Gavaskar in his column for Sportstar.
Dhawan played crucial roles in several tournaments for India. He was the leading run-scorer in India’s victorious 2013 Champions Trophy campaign in England and continued to be the top run-scorer for India in numerous other major tournaments, including the 2014 Asia Cup, 2015 ODI World Cup, 2017 Champions Trophy, and 2018 Asia Cup.
Apart from his contributions to the national team with the bat, Dhawan also led India on occasions when senior players were unavailable. In domestic leagues, he represented several teams including Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Dhawan is the second-highest run-getter in the IPL, only behind Virat Kohli.
Gavaskar remarked on the broader opportunities available for retired cricketers to stay connected with cricket, suggesting that Dhawan can still bring joy to fans in various roles. Dhawan, aged 38, has already taken steps in this regard by joining the Legends Cricket League and engaging in philanthropic ventures.
Moreover, Dhawan has his philanthropic ventures and recently became co-owner of the South Delhi Superstars team in the ongoing Delhi Premier League (DPL). “Taking that call is the hardest thing to do. But when the body tells the mind, ‘Enough, enough’, then that’s the right time to go.”
“Retired cricketers today have many more avenues open to stay connected with the game, and Shikhar could well avail of them. There’s no doubt that whatever he chooses to do, he will do it with the same cheer that he brought to the game and was loved by teammates and fans for,” he concluded.
Gavaskar noted that injuries might have influenced Dhawan’s decision to step away from the game. Dhawan, fondly called ‘Gabbar’, was a prolific run-scorer across formats for India and in domestic leagues. Dhawan contributed significantly to India’s cricketing success over the years.
He scored 6,793 runs in 167 ODIs at an average of 44.11 and a strike rate of 91.35, including 17 centuries.
In Test cricket, Dhawan amassed 2,315 runs in 34 matches, with an average of 40.61, including seven centuries.
His T20I career saw him scoring 1,759 runs at a strike rate of 126.36.
“Shikhar Dhawan’s retirement from all forms of the game is going to leave the sport poorer than before. The ever-smiling, ever-positive Shikhar, also fondly called ‘Gabbar’, was a player of enormous talent. But as befalls opening batters, a lean series or tournament can mean the selectors wielding the axe.”
“In later years, injuries were part of Shikhar’s career, which seldom allowed him to fully display his skill and probably helped him make the decision to quit the game while he was still enjoying being part of the circuit,” wrote Gavaskar in his column for Sportstar.
Dhawan played crucial roles in several tournaments for India. He was the leading run-scorer in India’s victorious 2013 Champions Trophy campaign in England and continued to be the top run-scorer for India in numerous other major tournaments, including the 2014 Asia Cup, 2015 ODI World Cup, 2017 Champions Trophy, and 2018 Asia Cup.
Apart from his contributions to the national team with the bat, Dhawan also led India on occasions when senior players were unavailable. In domestic leagues, he represented several teams including Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Dhawan is the second-highest run-getter in the IPL, only behind Virat Kohli.
Gavaskar remarked on the broader opportunities available for retired cricketers to stay connected with cricket, suggesting that Dhawan can still bring joy to fans in various roles. Dhawan, aged 38, has already taken steps in this regard by joining the Legends Cricket League and engaging in philanthropic ventures.
Moreover, Dhawan has his philanthropic ventures and recently became co-owner of the South Delhi Superstars team in the ongoing Delhi Premier League (DPL). “Taking that call is the hardest thing to do. But when the body tells the mind, ‘Enough, enough’, then that’s the right time to go.”
“Retired cricketers today have many more avenues open to stay connected with the game, and Shikhar could well avail of them. There’s no doubt that whatever he chooses to do, he will do it with the same cheer that he brought to the game and was loved by teammates and fans for,” he concluded.
