Veteran Indian opener, Shikhar Dhawan announced his retirement from the international cricket and domestic cricket on August 24. His close friend and former India teammate, Virat Kohli, congratulated and wished him well for his incredible career.
Kohli talked about Shikhar Dhawan‘s fearless debut and his journey to become one of India’s reliable openers. He also talked about the multiple good moments that he has gifted the players and the fans with his bat in international cricket.
Kohli also stated that Dhawan’s passion, his everlasting smile and his dedication to play cricket will be missed by all. The former Indian captain, signed off his tweet by congratulating his close friend for the unforgettable memories that he gave and wished him best for his post-retirement life.
“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, ” he wrote as caption.
Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan’s friendship dates back to domestic cricket days
Kohli and Dhawan have been close friends right from the time they played domestic cricket together for Delhi. Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were the most dreadful top 3 in the world cricket from 2013 to 2019. They scored about 70 percent of India’s runs during that period.
Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli played together for for India from 2011 to 2022 (Image Credits: X)
Dhawan and Kohli have been involved in a countless number of memorable partnerships and they have always jelled in together with smile on the field. The partnership has scored 3430 runs in international cricket with a stunning average of 60.17. They have 10 century partnerships and 15 half-century partnerships.
Dhawan was dropped from the Indian team in 2022 ahead of the ODI World Cup 2023 due to his declining form and Shubman Gill replaced him as the opener. Now, Dhawan felt that it was time for him to move on cricket and be happy for the journey that he has had in cricket.
On the other hand, Virat Kohli is currently spending his time with his family in London. He will be back on the cricket field for the test series against Bangladesh which starts on September 19.
