"I played with a broken arm": Shikhar Dhawan exposes Virat Kohli's cruelty

Former Team India batter Shikhar Dhawan recalled one of the toughest phases of his career under the leadership of Virat Kohli. The left-handed batter stated that he was dropped from the squad despite batting with a broken arm during the Test match against New Zealand in Kolkata in 2016.

Shikhar Dhawan retired from international cricket on August 24, 2024. The stylish left-hander amassed 10,867 runs in 288 innings across all formats for India. Dhawan played a crucial role in India's victory during the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, where he earned the Player of the Tournament award.

The Most Difficult Phase of My Career - Shikhar Dhawan

Speaking on Ranveer Allahbadia’s YouTube show Taakat, Shikhar Dhawan said that being dropped from India’s Test side in 2016 was the most challenging period of his international career. Dhawan said that he decided to continue batting despite being hit on the arm.

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"The most difficult phase of my career, there was a time when I was really desperate. I knew that if I don't score runs I would be out of the team. We had a Test match in Kolkata, against New Zealand. First innings I got out, second innings I went out and got hit by a ball by Trent Boult, it broke my arm," said Dhawan.

"I knew that if I choose to sit out of that innings, I would be out of that team. So I decided no, I’m going to play, I'm going to see out the innings. Pehle hi mara hua toh hoon, toh puura marke jaun na (I'm dead either way, so might as well die completely on the pitch and go out)" he added.

I Was Too Desperate for That Place - Shikhar Dhawan

Before the match at Eden Gardens, Dhawan had played eight Tests without a century and managed only one fifty. He was dropped from the team after that game. Dhawan admitted that his desperation to retain his place affected his performance. He added that chasing success with desperation wasn’t healthy.

"I played with a broken arm, got out on 15-20 runs, and after that I was out of the Test team. Then I realised that when I introspected, I was too desperate for that place. It’s a very valuable place, people live like kings there. I was cribbing a little. I did put in a lot of work, but I worked with a desperate energy. That’s why I didn’t get the results. So I asked myself, what is most important for me in life? Happiness is most important, that I stay happy," stated Dhawan.

"This was my dream, and I lived out my dream, set a world record, and I knew this would never stop, it would keep going. The race will never stop, someone will always be there," he continued.

Shikhar Dhawan Made a Sensational Start to His Test Career in 2013

Shikhar Dhawan made a sensational start to his Test career in 2013 with a record-breaking century on debut against Australia in Mohali. He smashed the fastest century by a debutant in the format. Dhawan made a strong comeback a year later after being dropped from the squad following the Kolkata Test.

The southpaw scored a brilliant 190 in Galle. He returned to the squad after an impressive 2017 Champions Trophy campaign, where he emerged as the tournament's leading run-scorer with 338 runs.

However, his place in the Test side remained uncertain, and he was eventually dropped again in 2018 after playing his final Test against England at The Oval. He featured in 34 Tests and scored 2,315 runs at an average of 40.61, including seven centuries and five fifties.

Also read: Gautam Gambhir opposed Sai Sudharsan's selection, Shubman Gill fought- Report