Out of nowhere, Shikhar Dhawan decides to call time on his career

Veteran Indian opener and Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shikhar Dhawan dropped a major hint about his retirement from the game after being able to play only five games in the IPL 2024 due to a shoulder injury that he suffered earlier this season.

Dhawan sustained a shoulder injury during the Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) IPL 2024 clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on April 9. In his absence, England all-rounder Sam Curran took over as the PBKS captain, and after his departure for national commitments, Jitesh Sharma led the side for the remainder of the season.

Despite their efforts, PBKS had a disappointing campaign, finishing IPL 2024 as the ninth team with only five wins from 14 games, with Dhawan making only five appearances throughout the season. In his five appearances, the left-handed opener could manage only 152 runs at a strike rate of 125.

Shikhar Dhawan started transitioning from cricket to new ventures

The 38-year-old has already been out of the Indian cricket team, and he was already told that the team moved on from him across the formats, and now his injury-marred IPL 2024 campaign has sparked talks about his retirement as he is mostly involved in other ventures off the field.

The PBKS captain recently announced the launch of his eyewear brand QUE and started a talk show called “Dhawan Karenge” on Jio Cinema. Meanwhile, Dhawan revealed that his retirement from the game is on the cards, and it can happen anytime or maybe within a couple of years. The veteran opener also revealed that he is still recovering from the shoulder injury.

Dhawan also lamented that he could play only 4-5 matches for PBKS in the IPL 2024. While admitting a player can play until a certain age, the left-hander revealed that he is going through a transition, and once his 22-yard innings finish, he is ready to begin a new chapter of his life.

Shikhar Dhawan reflects on retirement plans post-injury-hit IPL 2024

Shikhar Dhawan was quoted as saying by ANI: “I am also going through a transition 'Jahan Meri Cricket Vishram Pe Aayegi' and a new chapter in my life will start. You only have a certain age till you can play. It could be one year more, two years more, or XYZ for me.”

Dhawan added, “Unfortunately, I got injured this IPL season and could not play for Punjab except for 4-5 matches. It takes time to recover. I am still healing. I have not recovered 100 percent yet.”

Notably, he is the second-highest run-getter in the history of the IPL after Virat Kohli (8000+). Dhawan has 6,769 runs to his name in 222 IPL games. He was last seen in the national colors in an ODI match against Bangladesh in December 2022.

The senior Indian opener has not played Test cricket since 2028, while his last T20I appearance came in 2021 against Sri Lanka. Dhawan has represented India in 269 international matches since making his debut in 2010. He has 11000+ runs to his name in international cricket across the formats.