In an exclusive interview, Shikhar Dhawan opens up about his journey as an India cricketer and reveals why he chose not to call anyone after being dropped from the ODI and T20I squads.
Shikhar Dhawan: A Calculated Mind Behind the Swagger
Behind the disarming smile and kabaddi-style thigh slaps lies an astute mind—Shikhar Dhawan’s success wasn’t just about flair but also razor-sharp situational awareness. He wasn’t one of India’s most prolific white-ball openers by luck. While his cricketing skills deserve applause, equal credit goes to his remarkable ability to assess the moment—something every great cricketer must master. For Dhawan, this quality defines not just his game but his personality. He reads a room quickly, a talent he displayed flawlessly in 2018, 2021, and again in late 2022.
These turning points mirrored earlier phases of his career—2013, 2015, and 2017—years that shaped his trajectory in contrasting ways. Although Dhawan’s flamboyance became his trademark, his initial days in international cricket were surprisingly quiet: five ODIs yielding only 69 runs between 2010 and 2013, and a mere five runs in his only T20I.
While Dhawan struggled to find his footing, Indian cricket was also at a crossroads. Runs were drying up from the once-dominant Sehwag-Gambhir pair, and India began searching for new openers. Dhawan, reading the signals, leaned on his domestic and India A exploits, trusting that his moment would come—and when it did, he grabbed it with both hands.
In March 2013, against a fiery Australian attack comprising Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle, and Nathan Lyon, Dhawan unleashed one of the most memorable debut innings in Test cricket history. On a placid Mohali pitch, he smashed an 85-ball century—still the fastest by a debutant—eventually scoring 187 at a strike rate of 107.47, including 33 fours and two sixes. This was before T20-style aggression became mainstream in Test cricket.
“I used to do that in domestic cricket as well,” Dhawan told Hindustan Times, speaking about his fearless charge at the Aussies. Promoting his newly launched autobiography “The One”, Dhawan revealed that he visualised success for India long before his debut. “I used to visualise scoring centuries for India,” he said, flashing that signature smile. On that day, as he put it, his “bat wouldn’t stop”—and the Australians couldn’t stop him either.
The last England tour in 2018
In the 33 Tests that followed his explosive debut, Shikhar Dhawan rarely recaptured that same dominating presence. Yes, there were glimpses of brilliance—like the elegant 115 in Auckland, the gritty 98 in Wellington, or his courageous 81 in Brisbane, where he returned to bat after being retired hurt. His three centuries against Sri Lanka also stood out. But unlike his white-ball heroics, Dhawan never quite tamed the red ball with consistent success.
“I feel I got a decent average of 40 as an opener,” Dhawan said—his tone devoid of arrogance, mirroring the grounded candor with which he shares stories of his childhood, life philosophies, and spirituality in his forthcoming book. He also didn’t shy away from admitting his limitations: “I couldn’t perform in certain countries like England. I went there twice and couldn’t do much. I tried my best. But my best wasn’t good enough.”
It was the 2018 England tour that marked an abrupt end to his red-ball career. Reflecting on it with a sense of peace, the now 39-year-old, who retired from all forms of cricket last year, said: “That’s life. Sometimes unexpected things happen to you in a good way. I took it in my stride. I’m happy with whatever I achieved. Maybe at that time, I felt I could’ve got more chances. Now, when I look back, I’m happy.”