Shikhar Dhawan picks his favorite innings of his career after announcing retirement
Published - 24 Aug 2024, 11:17 AM | Updated - 25 Aug 2024, 11:16 AM
Veteran Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan has picked his favorite innings from his international cricketing career for the India national cricket team. Shikhar Dhawan's response came after he retired from all formats of international and domestic cricket on Saturday, August 24.
The Delhi-born batter represented the Men in Blue in 34 Tests, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is during his almost 13-year international cricketing career. The left-handed batter scored over 10,000 runs across formats in 269 matches. Dhawan smashed seven Test centuries and 17 ODI hundreds for India.
Shikhar Dhawan Picks Favorite Innings Of His Career
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Shikhar Dhawan picked his favorite innings of his career. Dhawan recalled his hundred on his Test debut against Australia in 2013, where he scored 187. He also selected his century against Australia during the ODI World Cup 2019 after suffering an injury.
"There’s more than one. My test debut in 2013, where I made 187 against Australia. When I made a century in 85 balls, I had no clue that I had set a world record for the fastest century by a debutant," Dhawan told Hindustan Times.
"Then there was the 2019 ODI World Cup innings at the Oval against Australia. I was playing at 25 runs when that happened. I just downed a painkiller and continued batting. I made 117 of 109 balls in that inning and was the player of the match. I’m thankful to my captain, MS Dhoni, for backing me," he added.
Dhawan played his first international match for India against Australia in 2010. However, he was dismissed for a two-ball duck in the ODI match. Dhawan made his Test debut in the 2013 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, where he made a significant impact by scoring a century off just 85 balls.
Shikhar Dhawan's Impressive Performances for Team India
The left-handed batter was recalled for ODIs after his Test debut. Dhawan partnered with Rohit Sharma during the 2013 Champions Trophy. He scored back-to-back centuries against South Africa and the West Indies. Dhawan earned Player of the Tournament as Team India clinched the title in England.
The opening batter played crucial knocks for Team India in ICC ODI tournaments. He was the top run-scorer in the 2015 World Cup where he amassed 412 runs at an average of 51.5. Dhawan continued his impressive form in the 2017 Champions Trophy. He became the leading run-getter of the tournament.
Shikhar Dhawan was in brilliant form at the 2019 World Cup before a thumb injury sidelined him. He played a remarkable 117 against Australia despite playing through pain. Notably, this tournament was Dhawan's final ICC appearance for Team India. This innings was also his last century for India.
He was inconsistent in Test cricket despite a strong start. Dhawan amassed 2,315 runs in 40 Tests at an average of 40.61, including seven centuries and five fifties. He had a challenging series in England in 2018, where he scored just 162 runs in eight innings. He was dropped and did not return to Test cricket.
