No more Gabbar magic: Smile, moustache and thigh slap bid farewell to field

Shikhar Dhawan, fondly known as "Gabbar," announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket today via social media, sharing the news with his teammates and fans. The announcement marks the end of a remarkable 12-year career that began with his ODI debut for India in 2010. Dhawan last played for India in an ODI against Bangladesh in 2022.

A native of Delhi, Dhawan was a versatile player who excelled in all three formats of the game, but it was in ODIs where he truly made his mark. He rose to prominence after Sourav Ganguly’s retirement, stepping into the opening position with an aggressive style of batting. While his debut match saw him dismissed for a duck, Dhawan quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with.

His breakthrough came in 2013 when he scored a stunning 187 in his first Test match. Dhawan also achieved the rare feat of scoring a century in his 100th ODI match. Notably, he holds the unique record of scoring a century in one innings and getting out for a duck in the next. Alongside Rohit Sharma, Dhawan was regarded as one of the best attacking openers in ODI cricket.

Dhawan’s career statistics are impressive: he scored 2,315 runs in 34 Tests at an average of 40.61, with a highest score of 190. In ODIs, he amassed 6,793 runs in 167 matches, with a highest score of 143 and a batting average of 44.11. In T20Is, he accumulated 1,759 runs in 68 matches. His flamboyant batting style was matched by his iconic thigh-slapping celebration, earning him the nickname "Gabbar."

While Dhawan has retired from international and domestic cricket, he has not yet clarified whether he will continue playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Currently the captain of the Punjab Kings franchise, Dhawan played in the last IPL season and holds the record for scoring consecutive centuries in IPL matches. Over his IPL career, Dhawan has also represented Delhi Capitals, Delhi Daredevils, Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians. Additionally, he had the honor of leading the Indian national team on several occasions.

Gabbar’s retirement marks the end of an era, but his legacy as a dangerous batsman with a love for life and humor will endure in the hearts of cricket fans around the world.