Published 12:48 IST, August 24th 2024
Shikhar Dhawan Retirement: A Look at the Remarkable and Influential Legacy of Mr. ICC
Shikhar Dhawan bids adieu, commemorating his 'Mr. ICC' title with exceptional tournament records, marking a remarkable and influential journey in cricket.
Respected Indian cricket player Shikhar Dhawan has always been praised as among the most brilliant players in the country. His graceful stroke play and strong record have confirmed his value for Indian cricket. But his choice to call it curtains on both domestic and international cricket has stunned the spectators. He made a clear statement on Saturday, August 24, 2024, about retiring from the game. Dhawan's legacy as a great talent and a popular character in Indian cricket is expected to endure for years to come as colleagues and supporters show thanks for his great accomplishments.
Why is Shikhar Dhawan known as the ‘Mr ICC’?
After making his debut on the international scene in 2010, the 38-year-old has a career spanning over 13 years. He accumulated over 10,000 runs across many forms during this period: 2,315 runs in tests, 6,793 runs in ODIs, and 1,579 runs in T20Is.
Dhawan made a big impression in important ICC events even if his international career may not have been as long as other of his contemporaries like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, or MS Dhoni.
His best performance came in England and Wales during the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. Named Player of the Tournament, Dhawan took home the Golden Bat for the leading run-scorer.
Dhawan's ICC Tournament Records
| Competition | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50s | 100s | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champions Trophy 2013 | 5 | 363 | 90.75 | 101.39 | 1 | 2 | 114 |
| T20 World Cup 2014 | 3 | 31 | 10.33 | 83.78 | 0 | 0 | 30 |
| ODI World Cup 2015 | 8 | 412 | 51.50 | 91.75 | 1 | 2 | 137 |
| T20 World Cup 2016 | 4 | 43 | 10.75 | 82.69 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| Champions Trophy 2017 | 5 | 338 | 67.60 | 101.80 | 2 | 1 | 125 |
| ODI World Cup 2019 | 2 | 125 | 62.50 | 103.30 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| Total | 27 | 1312 | 50.46 | 97.25 | 4 | 6 | 137 |
Although Shikhar Dhawan's T20 achievements were less outstanding, he shone in 50-over events, most famously ruling the Champions Trophy in 2013 and 2017 and the World Cups in 2015 and 2019.
Record in 50-Over ICC Tournaments
| Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50s | 100s | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 1238 | 65.15 | 98.25 | 4 | 6 | 137 |
In December 2022 Shikhar Dhawan last featured for India in an ODI against Bangladesh. Since then, he has been finding it hard to compete with the young rising stars like Shubman Gill—who now has the ODI starting slot—take the stage under the new head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Dhawan said in his depart message, "I've told myself I should not feel sad that you won't play for India again but feel happy that you played for the country."
Shikhar Dhawan concluded his participation in the IPL during the 2024 season with the Punjab Kings when he faced the Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, he was unable to play due to an injury and did not appear much in the IPL 2024. In just 5 games in 2024, he scored 152 runs. However, he is a true IPL icon too, as he has scored 6769 runs in 222 IPL games since his debut in 2008.
Updated 13:24 IST, August 24th 2024