Shikhar Dhawan brought his illustrious international career to a close on Saturday, announcing his retirement from both international and domestic cricket. Since making his debut for India in 2010, Dhawan became an integral figure in the team, especially in white-ball formats. Renowned as one of India’s premier openers, Dhawan’s record in ODIs stands out with 6,793 runs from 167 matches at an average of 44.
11. His dynamic partnership with Rohit Sharma , which began in 2013, marked a golden chapter in Indian cricket history. Dhawan’s arrival at the top of the order coincided with a transition period for Indian cricket.
Following Sachin Tendulkar's white-ball retirement and Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir's loss of places due to poor form, the team was in search of stability at the opening spots. The promotion of Rohit Sharma to the opening spot alongside Dhawan was, thus, a strategic move by then-captain MS Dhoni aimed at revitalising the Indian top-order. This decision proved pivotal, culminating in India’s victorious campaign at the 2013 Champions Trophy, where Dhawan emerged as the tournament’s highest run-scorer with 363 runs in five matches.
The duo of Dhawan and Rohit set a strong foundation for India, with Dhawan’s aggressive batting style complementing Rohit’s approach. Their partnership was key to India’s many successes, with Virat Kohli ’s consistent performance at No. 3 adding further strength to the top order.
This trio’s formidable presence .