'Your Legacy Lives On...': Virat Kohli Pays Tribute to Retired Shikhar Dhawan, Praises His Spirit

Respected Indian cricket player Shikhar Dhawan has always been praised as among the most brilliant players in the country. His graceful stroke play and strong record have confirmed his value for Indian cricket. But his choice to call it curtains on both domestic and international cricket has stunned the spectators. He made a clear statement on Saturday, August 24, 2024, about retiring from the game. Dhawan's legacy as a great talent and a popular character in Indian cricket is expected to endure for years to come as colleagues and supporters show thanks for his great accomplishments.

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Virat Kohli writes an emotional message to Shikhar Dhawan following his retirement from cricket

Veteran Indian cricket star Virat Kohli paid moving homage to his long-time buddy and colleague Shikhar Dhawan. Following Dhawan's Saturday retirement from both international and local cricket, Kohli posted his sincere feelings on social media early on August 25, Sunday.

Kohli said in his statement that he will really miss Dhawan's "trademark" grin on the pitch. The cricketing path of Kohli and Dhawan started in their younger years; Dhawan's retirement marks the end of a major chapter in Indian cricket. Virat Kohli wrote on X:

‘Shikhar @SDhawan25 from your fearless debut to becoming one of India's most dependable openers, you've given us countless memories to cherish. Your passion for the game, your sportsmanship and your trademark smile will be missed, but your legacy lives on. Thank you for the memories, unforgettable performances and always leading with your heart. Wishing you the best in your next innings, off the field Gabbar! 🏏🇮🇳’ 

After making his debut on the international scene in 2010, the 38-year-old has a career spanning over 13 years. Dhawan accumulated over 10,000 runs across many forms during this period: 2,315 runs in tests, 6,793 runs in ODIs, and 1,579 runs in T20Is.

Dhawan made a big impression in important ICC events even if his international career may not have been as long as other of his contemporaries like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, or MS Dhoni.

His best performance came in England and Wales during the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. Named Player of the Tournament, Dhawan took home the Golden Bat for the leading run-scorer.

In December 2022 Shikhar Dhawan last featured for India in an ODI against Bangladesh. Since then, he has been finding it hard to compete with the young rising stars like Shubman Gill—who now has the ODI starting slot—take the stage under the new head coach Gautam Gambhir.

Shikhar Dhawan concluded his participation in the IPL during the 2024 season with the Punjab Kings when he faced the Sunrisers Hyderabad. However, he was unable to play due to an injury and did not appear much in the IPL 2024. In just 5 games in 2024, he scored 152 runs. However, he is a true IPL icon too, as he has scored 6769 runs in 222 IPL games since his debut in 2008.