How Ishan Kishan's 200 marked the end of Shikhar Dhawan's career: 'My instinct told me...'

How Ishan Kishan ended Shikhar Dhawan's career

The international career of Shikhar Dhawan ended suddenly. The flashy left-hander, who was once an essential member of India's limited-overs set-up, did not get the proper send-off that his services may have merited.

Dhawan contributed significantly to India's success in white-ball cricket, particularly in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, where he finished as the leading run scorer with 363 runs at an average of 90.75 in five games. With an average of 53.70 in ODI World Cups, he kept a solid record in ICC competitions.

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Even though India were unable to add another trophy to their cabinet following their 2011 World Cup victory, his steady efforts were essential in keeping them among the championship contenders in international competitions. But as with many athletes, time eventually caught up with him. The Indian squad started looking to the future, providing younger players who had excelled in the Indian Premier League with opportunities.

Additionally, the game itself was changing, emphasizing power hitting and effortlessly clearing the ropes. The new strategy did not quite suit Dhawan, who was more renowned for his timing and fluency. Ishan Kishan, a courageous young batsman from Jharkhand, came into the game and grabbed headlines with his historic double century against Bangladesh, which at that time made him the youngest player to accomplish the feat in ODIs. Shubman Gill later broke that record in 2023 when he scored 208 against New Zealand.

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This made Dhawan realise that his days of wearing the Indian jersey were numbered.

"I was scoring lots of 50s, I didn't score a 100, but I scored lots of 70s. When Ishan Kishan scored that 200, my instinct told me, alright boy, this can be the end of your career. An inner voice came to me. And that's what happened. Then I remember my friends came over to, you know, give me that emotional support. They thought that I would be very down. But I was chilling, I was enjoying," Dhawan said in an interview with Hindustan Times.

The fact that no one from the team, save for head coach Rahul Dravid, contacted him made the situation considerably more difficult. But according to Dhawan, he didn't take it personally and that this kind of stuff was common in professional sports.

"No, it doesn't happen that way," he said.

"Maybe I spoke to Rahul (Dravid) Bhai. He messaged me. Everyone has their own journey, and they are doing work or they are on tours, that's something very normal. We are used to it from the age of under 14, this is not the first time I am getting dropped or getting in," he added.

Dhawan is still cherished for his legendary performances in spite of his silent departure. He was a fan favorite and a vital member of one of the most impressive white-ball batting lineups India has ever produced because of his vigor, flair, and capacity to perform under pressure.