'Injuries Helped Him Make The Decision': Sunil Gavaskar on Why Shikhar Dhawan Retired From International Cricket

Shikhar Dhawan ended his India playing career by announcing retirement from domestic and international cricket recently. Dhawan made his international debut in 2010 and represented his country in all three formats, tasting success and enjoyed tremendous success in ODIs. Known for his fluent strokeplay, the lefty will be counted among the top opening batters to have played for India in ODIs. He was known for raising his performances in the ICC events which resulted in the moniker ‘Mr. ICC’.

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The legendary Sunil Gavaskar feels that Dhawan’s retirement leaves cricket ‘poorer’ and recalled his delightful on-field demeanour which made him a fan favourite.

“Shikhar Dhawan’s retirement from all forms of the game is going to leave the sport poorer than before,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for the Sportstar. “The ever-smiling, ever-positive Shikhar, also fondly called ‘Gabbar’, was a player of enormous talent.”

Dhawan scored over 10,000 runs across formats for India but lost his place thanks to injury, dip in form and the arrival of the younger generation.

“But as befalls opening batters, a lean series or tournament can mean the selectors wielding the axe,” Gavaskar wrote. “In later years, injuries were part of Shikhar’s career, which seldom allowed him to fully display his skill and probably helped him make the decision to quit the game while he was still enjoying being part of the circuit.”

Dhawan retired at the age of 38 having played 34 Tests, 167 ODIs and 68 T20Is between 2010 and 2022. He will now next be seen in action at the Legends League Cricket (LLC) – a tournament featuring yesteryear stars.

Gavaskar pointed out how challenging it can become to call time on playing career but it becomes apparent when the body starts giving signals to call it quits.

“Taking that call is the hardest thing to do. But when the body tells the mind, ‘Enough, enough’, then that’s the right time to go,” Gavaskar wrote and hopes that Dhawan will bring the “same cheer that he brought to the game” in anything he decides to do in the next phase of his life.