MUMBAI, (ANI) – Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan played 269 international matches for India and scored 10,867 runs at an average close to 40.
Shikhar Dhawan, who announced his retirement on August 24, was India’s opening mainstay in the previous decade, providing stability as a top-order batsman across all three formats. He had a steady run in Tests (2315 runs at an average of 40.61) and T20Is (1759 runs at 27.92), but it was in the ODI format (6793 runs at 44.11) that the left-hander excelled.
Dhawan played a crucial role in keeping the top order together after the departure of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir in the early 2010s, according to the ICC.
Let’s take a look at his best batting performances throughout his 12-year career.
Mohali’s turnaround
Dhawan’s 187 v Australia, 3rd Test, Mohali, 2013: Highest figure by a Test debutant for India
Shikhar Dhawan has featured in a few limited-overs games since his debut in 2010 but was yet to make a mark as a batsman.
Everything changed when he replaced an out-of-form Sehwag in the India XI for the third Test of the four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia to make his Test debut. There were just two games left in the series, and Dhawan needed to be at his best to reignite his international career.
After Australia scored a formidable 408 in the first innings, Dhawan responded with a sensational 187, including 33 fours and two sixes, on his Test debut. His century came off just 85 balls, the fastest by a debutant in the format. His score is the highest by a Test debutant for India.
The Men in Blue secured a 91-run lead, supported by the bowlers who held Australia to 223 in the third innings. India chased down a modest target of 133 with six wickets to spare and took an unassailable 3–0 series lead.
Cardiff Champion
114 v South Africa, Champions Trophy, Cardiff, 2013:
Dhawan’s Mohali special helped him make a foray into other formats. After being picked in the squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2013, Dhawan was partnered by Rohit Sharma as India searched for a new opening combination at the top.
In India’s opening game in Cardiff, the new left-right hand combination worked wonders against a South Africa attack featuring Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Rory Kleinveldt and Ryan McLaren as they added 127 runs for the first wicket. While Rohit perished for a well-made 65, Dhawan smashed his maiden ODI hundred, ensuring a winning total of 331/7 for India.
Dhawan’s 114 came off just 94 balls with 12 fours and a six to his name. Dhawan thrived in the remaining games of the tournament as well, providing solidity at the top with Rohit. He was the leading run-getter in the tournament.
India had an unbeaten run en route to the title and managed a new opening combination towards the end.
Fighting in Auckland
115 v New Zealand, 1st Test, Auckland, 2014:
India began the opening Test of the two-match series in New Zealand in inauspicious circumstances. They had not won a Test away from home since 2011 and had lost the previous ODI series 4–0 to the Black Caps.
A double hundred from Brendon McCullum (224) and a century from Kane Williamson (113) were followed by a brilliant display of fast bowling as New Zealand secured a 301-run lead. Led by Ishant Sharma (3/28) and Mohammed Shami (3/37), India’s pacers thrashed New Zealand for 105 in their second innings. Still, a target of 407 was a daunting prospect given India’s performance in the first innings.
Dhawan, who had fallen for a duck to Trent Boult earlier, set the tone with an attacking start. Along with Virat Kohli (67), he stitched a crucial 126-run stand for the third wicket. He eventually fell for 115 when the score was 248, and India fell short by 40 runs.
However, the knock also showed that Dhawan was a skilled batsman in foreign conditions as well.
Breaking the spell in Melbourne
137 v South Africa, Cricket World Cup, Melbourne, 2015
India faced South Africa in their second group game of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2015. While the Men in Blue started off on a winning note against Pakistan, the contest against South Africa was a different story altogether.
The Proteas had got the better of India in all their previous encounters (1992, 1999, 2011) in the Men’s Cricket World Cups. Moreover, captained by AB de Villiers, South Africa were fielding an exceptional line-up with the likes of Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir and Quinton de Kock in the setup.
After India decided to bat, Rohit Sharma was run out for a duck in the third over. Dhawan then took it from his side and stitched together splendid partnerships with Virat Kohli (46) and Ajinkya Rahane (79). Taking on all of South Africa’s bowlers, Dhawan dispatched the Proteas down the ground, hitting 18 boundaries during his ton, including two sixes.
By the time the left-hander was dismissed, India were all set for a total of over 300.
Dhawan completed his 137 with two important catches as South Africa were bowled out for 177, and India secured a 130-run victory.
Courage in the Oval
117 v Australia, Cricket World Cup, The Oval, 2019:
After a comfortable win against South Africa in their first group match of the 2019 Cricket World Cup, India were set to face Australia at The Oval. This was a significant contest as India’s unbeaten run in the 2015 edition was halted by Australia in the semi-final, who went on to win the tournament.
Along with Rohit (57), Dhawan gave India the perfect start, taking the lead in the strokeplay attack. Despite being hit by Pat Cummins, Dhawan kept going against a formidable Australian attack. He hit 16 fours during his century, which came off 95 balls. This was his sixth and last hundred in ICC tournaments.
Cameos from Hardik Pandya (48 off 27) and MS Dhoni (27 off 14) helped the Men in Blue make the most of this start and took them to 352/5. This is India’s highest total in the Cricket World Cup against Australia.
A sharp bowling performance secured a 36-run victory for India. However, later scans revealed that Dhawan had fractured his thumb during his innings and was ruled out of the tournament.
That brave foray in difficult circumstances proved to be Dhawan’s last appearance in an ICC tournament.
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