In August 2024, Shikhar Dhawan officially announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket, bringing to a close one of the most impactful careers by an opening batter in ODIs. Nicknamed 'Mr. ICC' for his consistent brilliance in global tournaments, Dhawan was the top scorer and Player of the Tournament during India’s victorious 2013 Champions Trophy campaign. He replicated his form in the 2015 World Cup and 2017 Champions Trophy, averaging an exceptional 65 in ICC events.

Across 167 ODIs, Dhawan amassed 6793 runs at an average of 44.11, including 17 centuries and 39 fifties. His final outing in India colors came during the 2022 tour of Bangladesh, where he scored just 18 runs in three innings. That series also featured Ishan Kishan’s record-breaking double century—210 off 131 balls—which Dhawan revealed was a pivotal moment for him. “When Ishan Kishan scored that 200, my instinct told me, alright boy, this can be the end of your career. An inner voice came to me. And that’s what happened,” Dhawan told Hindustan Times.

In that particular game, Dhawan scored only 3 runs while India went on to win by 227 runs. Despite the personal setback, Dhawan shared that he was emotionally at peace. “Then I remember my friends came over to, you know, give me that emotional support. They thought that I would be very down. But I was chilling; I was enjoying it," he added, reflecting his typical calm and cheerful demeanor.

"We Are Used to It Since Under-14 Days": Dhawan on Being Dropped

Dhawan also addressed the silence from teammates after he was dropped from the Indian team, clarifying that such things are not unusual in the world of cricket. “No, it doesn’t happen that way (teammates messaging after someone being dropped). Maybe I spoke to Rahul (Dravid) bhai. He messaged me,” he said, when asked if any player had reached out after his exclusion.

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The 39-year-old veteran stressed that he wasn’t shocked by the development, having experienced selections and exclusions since his early playing days. “Everyone has their own journey, and they are doing work or they are on tours; that’s something very normal. We are used to it from the age of under 14; this is not the first time I am getting dropped or getting in,” Dhawan said calmly, summing up his journey with characteristic grace.