Shikhar Dhawan's retirement leads to Twitter reactions from fans and players
Dashing left-handed opener Shikhar Dhawan announced his retirement from international cricket on Saturday (August 24). During his decorated international career, Dhawan became one of the most prolific opening batters in the history of Indian cricket.
The 34-year-old played 38 Tests, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is for India, and scored close to 11000 runs in international cricket. Dhawan retires as one of the modern-day ODI greats with 6793 runs at an average of 44.11. He scored 17 hundreds and 39 fifties in ODIs.
Dhawan played his last international match against Bangladesh in December 2022. However, with Dhawan's decline in form and the emergence of Shubman Gill, the former was dropped from the Indian ODI team.
After his retirement, social media was flooded with tweets from his fans who congratulated him and thanked him for proving to be such an asset to the Indian team. Dhawan formed a successful opening pair with Rohit Sharma at the top which resulted in many victories for India.
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Here’s how fans and players reacted to Shikhar Dhawan's retirement:
A man for the big tournaments. Never got the plaudits he deserved but knowing him he didn't care who got the applause as long as team was winning. A team man through and through. Congratulations on a stellar career and all the best for your second innings @SDhawan25 🤗 pic.twitter.com/Y4fMBbIIfR
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) August 24, 2024
Shikhar Dhawan has announced his retirement from international cricket.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 24, 2024
Thank you, Mr. ICC. 🥹❤️ pic.twitter.com/rLNimVKxFF
SHIKHAR DHAWAN RETIRED FROM INTERNATIONAL CRICKET....!!!!
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 24, 2024
- An Icon of Indian Cricket, Thank you for the memories 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/xPC6kCXEGw
Shikhar Dhawan said, "I hope Zoravar gets to know about my retirement, but over that I would like Zoravar to remember me as a good human being and how much I loved him".
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 24, 2024
- A father's heart, Gabbar is emotional today. 🥹 pic.twitter.com/eBDXS2x5dx
The trio is officially 1 down forever
— Shivani (@meme_ki_diwani) August 24, 2024
The best top order of our generation.
Happy retirement #ShikharDhawan ❤️ pic.twitter.com/OTVMJGZOjn
BCCI tried to replace the #ShikharDhawan but no one can match him😎🔥
— Jashwanth Swaroop (@Jashwanth__S) August 24, 2024
Man of Big Events
Man of ICC tournaments
Gabbar bolte pic.twitter.com/pIetyGXANC
VIRAT KOHLI 🤝 ROHIT SHARMA 🤝 SHIKHAR DHAWAN.
— Tanuj Singh (@ImTanujSingh) August 24, 2024
The GOAT Trio in ODI Cricket History, Now Shikhar Dhawan has retired. 🥺❤️ pic.twitter.com/9ICv0Wins6
Sachin Tendulkar ❌
— 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔 (@Shebas_10dulkar) August 24, 2024
Sourav Ganguly ❌
Virender Sehwag ❌
Rohit Sharma ❌
Shikhar Dhawan ✅
He is Only Indian Men Opener to Score ODI Century in all SENA Countries ✅
Happy Retirement 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗸𝗵𝗮𝗿 𝗗𝗵𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗻 pic.twitter.com/HQqSLVIbrv
AN ICONIC SCORE-CARD IN ODIs.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 24, 2024
- Shikhar Dhawan will be truly missed. 💔 pic.twitter.com/0Gn7sWOOXh
Shikhar Dhawan has called time on his 14-year international career by announcing his retirement through a social media post 💔
— Kashif Malik (@SportsK89857) August 24, 2024
One of my favorite gubbar celebrations in the past @SDhawan25 pic.twitter.com/g1BhUL62oX
Shikhar Dhawan Announced his Retirement from International Cricket 🏏
— Richard Kettleborough (@RichKettle07) August 24, 2024
ODI - 6793 Runs
Test - 2315 Runs
T20I - 1759 Runs
IPL - 6768 Runs
One of the most Elegant Left Hand Opening Batter from India 🇮🇳
Happy Retirement @SDhawan25#ShikharDhawan pic.twitter.com/Mfwss2mZDw
Rohit Sharma 🤝 Shikhar Dhawan as Opening Pair in ODIs:
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 24, 2024
- 117 innings
- 5193 runs
- 45.15 average
- 18 hundreds
- 15 fifties
ONE OF THE GREATEST OPENING PAIR EVER IN ODI HISTORY 🥶 pic.twitter.com/bvxQ5OqGdY
Shikhar Dhawan in ICC tournaments
Shikhar Dhawan has a tremendous record in ICC tournaments. In 2013, he played a key role in India lifting the ICC Champions Trophy with 363 runs in five innings at an average of 90,75 and a strike rate of 101.39. He emerged as the highest run-getter of the competition.
His record in big tournaments like the World Cups was brilliant as well. The left-hander scored 537 runs in 10 World Cup matches at an average of 53.70 and a strike rate of 94.21. Interestingly, Dhawan scored four fifty-plus scores in World Cups which included three hundreds.
At one time, India's top three Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli were known to be the best top order in the world. The three created havoc in the opposition's minds and could chase down any target. However, Dhawan's retirement brought an end to this era.
