“India will always remember its ‘Mr. ICC’: Emotional reactions flood X following Shikhar Dhawan’s retirement announcement.”

Shikhar Dhawan, the experienced Indian opening batsman, recently declared his retirement from international cricket, wrapping up an illustrious career that lasted more than 10 years. Dhawan, at 38, made his retirement public two years subsequent to playing in his last international match, sharing that he was content and proud of his achievements in the game.

Dhawan debuted on the global cricket scene in 2010 in a One Day International (ODI) against Australia in Visakhapatnam, with his final performance for India occurring in an ODI against Bangladesh in 2022.

“As I close this chapter of my cricketing journey, I carry with me countless memories and gratitude. Thank you for the love and support! Jai Hind!,” Dhawan said in a post on ‘X’.

Over his career span, Dhawan was a constant fixture at the beginning of the batting lineup, appearing in 34 Test matches, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is for India. His performance in ODIs was especially noteworthy, amassing 6793 runs at an average of 44.11, including 17 hundreds and 39 fifties.

Alongside Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Dhawan was part of India’s formidable top order, beginning during the 2013 Champions Trophy. This trio became synonymous with the Indian top order, especially in ODIs, for the next decade.

By the end of 2022, the rise of new talents such as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill and a decline in his own form saw Dhawan being gradually sidelined from the team.

Upon announcing his retirement, Dhawan received a heartfelt tribute from fans, who also celebrated the memorable era of the top-order trio.

Dhawan’s impact, especially in ODIs, where he frequently anchored India’s batting, cements his legacy within Indian cricket.

Nicknamed ‘Mr. ICC’ for his exceptional performances in ICC tournaments, Dhawan played a pivotal role in India’s 2013 Champions Trophy victory, emerging as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 363 runs. He was India’s top run-getter in the 2015 World Cup, racking up 412 runs. Despite an injury that limited his participation in the 2019 ODI World Cup to just two games, Dhawan made a significant impact by scoring a century in his second match, even while dealing with severe pain in his finger, eventually contributing to India’s semi-final exit.

Though Dhawan played fewer Test matches, his contribution in the format was significant, scoring 2315 runs at an average of 40.61, including seven centuries.