Shikhar Dhawan Archives

Shikhar Dhawan comments on India facing Pakistan in WCL 2025 semi-final

The opening batter of the India Champions, Shikhar Dhawan, has opened up on the possibility of playing arch-rivals Pakistan Champions in the semi-final of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025.

Dhawan was asked about the possibility of India playing Pakistan in the WCL semi-final.

“You’re asking this question at the wrong time and place — you shouldn’t have asked it. And even if I didn’t play earlier, I still won’t play now,” Shikhar Dhawan replied.

The reigning title holders of WCL’s inaugural edition, India Champions, are currently languishing at the bottom of the points table, whereas Pakistan is at the top of the charts with three wins out of four games.

India succumbed to their second defeat on Saturday’s encounter against Australia, despite Shikhar Dhawan scoring 90 off 61 balls.

In contrast, Pakistan Champions outplayed West Indies, continuing their dominant run. Kamran Akmal was the star of the match, rolling back the clock with a sublime ton to help his team secure top spot in the tournament’s points table.

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During Saturday’s tournament action, India suffered their second defeat as Australia successfully chased a formidable 204-run target in the final over.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Champions continued their dominant run, notching their third consecutive win by defeating the West Indies Champions by 49 runs.

Kamran Akmal’s match-winning century and a strong bowling performance led Pakistan to the top of the WCL 2025 points table.

It is noteworthy to mention that the league stage fixture between India and Pakistan was cancelled by the WCL organizers. The much-anticipated Pakistan-India fixture, scheduled for 20 July at Edgbaston, was set to be one of the marquee contests of the WCL 2025.

The announcement of cancellation came via a statement on the tournament’s official social media platforms.

For the unversed, WCL 2025 is currently taking place in England, featuring retired international stars from around the world.

READ: Maxwell, Green star as Australia take 4-0 lead over West Indies in T20I series

Shikhar Dhawan announces retirement from international, domestic cricket

India’s left-handed opening batter Shikhar Dhawan on Saturday, announced to hang up his boots from international and domestic cricket, bringing curtains down on an illustrious 14-year career.

Dhawan announced his retirement via a video message shared on all media platforms with the caption, “As I close this chapter of my cricketing journey, I carry with me countless memories and gratitude. Thank you for the love and support.”

The 38-year-old thanked his family, friends, coaches and teammates for their unwavering support throughout his professional career.

“I always had one goal in mind that was to play for India and I achieved it thanks to a lot of people. First of all my family, my childhood coach Tarak Sinha and Madan Sharma, under their guidance, I learnt cricket. Then my entire team with whom I played for years, got another family, fame and everyone’s love and support,” said Dhawan in the video message.

“As it’s said that to move ahead in the story you need to flip over the pages. Hence, I’m also doing that, I’m announcing my retirement from international and domestic cricket, he added.

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Shikhar Dhawan expressed with the amount of cricket he played for India but admitted that he would need to console himself due to the fact that he would not represent his country again.

“And now when I’m bidding adieu to my cricketing journey, I have the satisfaction that I played a lot for my country. I’m really thankful to the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) and DDCA (Delhi & District Cricket Association) for giving me this opportunity and all of my fans for their love and support.

“I just say this to myself that don’t be sad that you won’t play for your country again but always be happy that you played for your country. And it’s the biggest achievement for me that I played.”

Shikhar Dhawan, who made his international debut in 2010, went on to represent India in 34 Tests, 167 ODIs and 68 T20Is, accumulating 10,867 across formats with the help of 24 centuries and 44 fifties.

He played a pivotal role in leading India to ICC Champions Trophy 2013 glory as he was the leading run-scorer of the tournament. He was also adjudged the Player of the Tournament.

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Dhawan, Siraj power India to beat West Indies in a thrilling first ODI

PORT OF SPAIN: India interim captain Shikhar Dhawan led from the front with a magnificent 97 before the bowlers displayed nerves of steel to aid the touring side seal a thrilling victory over the West Indies in the first ODI.

India’s right-arm pacer Mohammed Siraj held his nerves calm to defend 15 runs in the final over as he leaked 11 to hand his side a thrilling three-run victory in the first ODI of the three-match series, which went right down to the wire.

Batting first, India posted a commendable total of 308/7 in the allotted 50 overs at the back of a strong display from their top three.

India’s interim captain and left-handed opener Dhawan top-scored for the side as he scored a brilliant 97 off 99 balls, laced with 10 boundaries and three sixes. His opening partner Shubman Gill, on the other hand, scored 64 at a decent strike rate of 120 with the help of six boundaries and two sixes.

As the openers provided a solid foundation for a decent total, the stand-in vice-captain Shreyas Iyer capitalized on the situation as he too, shone with a brilliant half-century; scoring 54 off 57 balls including five boundaries and two sixes.

The rest of the Indian batters then made important contributions and bolstered the touring side to finish at 308/7 in 50 overs.

For West Indies, Alzarri Joseph and Gudakesh Motie claimed two wickets each, while Romario Shepherd and Akeal Hosein made one scalp apiece.

Set to chase 308, West Indies fell three runs short of the target as the hosts finished at 305/6 in 50 overs, despite a magnificent knock of opening batter Kyle Mayers.

The left-handed batter top-scored for the side with a valiant 75 off 68 balls, while Brandon King also starred with a valuable fifty; scoring 54 off 66.

Shamarh Brooks also chipped in for the hosts with a gritty 46 off 61 deliveries but remained a touch too slow in the proceedings.

The middle-order failure then almost wrote out the West Indies from the game but an astounding seventh-wicket partnership between Hosein and Shepher glimmered a ray of hope for the hosts.

The pair accelerated the run chase with quickfire cameos, but, in the end, remained unable to steer their side to the victory as Siraj defended 15 runs in the final over to nullify their efforts.

Hosein remained unbeaten with a run-a-ball 32, while Shepherd scored blistering 39 not-out off a mere 25 deliveries, laced with three boundaries and two sixes.

For India, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Siraj bagged two wickets each.

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Dhawan to lead India in West Indies ODIs, Jadeja named as deputy

NEW DELHI: India’s left-handed opening batter Shikhar Dhawan has been named as the ODI captain for the forthcoming tour of the West Indies, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, on the other hand, has been named the vice-captain.

The Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) has put faith in young players for the upcoming task against West Indies as designated captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, and Mohammed Shami have all been given rest for the three-match series.

Dhawan will be leading the Men in Blue for the second time in ODIs after the limited-overs tour to Sri Lanka in 2021.

The 16-member Indian squad marked the comeback of right-handed batter Shubman Gill, who last played an ODI for India in 2020. Sanju Samson, on the other hand, will be making his comeback after a year.

🚨 NEWS 🚨: The All-India Senior Selection Committee has picked the squad for the three-match ODI series against the West Indies to be played at the Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad.#TeamIndia | #WIvIND

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 6, 2022

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Avesh Khan, and Deepak Hooda, on the other hand, have also been included in the squad after being left out of the ODI squad in England.

India’s designated vice-captain KL Rahul was not considered for selection as he recently underwent surgery for a sports hernia.

It is pertinent to mention here that India will be touring West Indies later this month and will contest in three ODIs and five T20Is. The BCCI will announce the T20I squad in a due course.

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India announce ‘second-string’ squad for Sri Lanka series, Dhawan to lead

Karachi: Shikhar Dhawan was named captain of a second-string Indian side which includes a host of local performers for the limited-overs series in Sri Lanka next month.
India will play three one-day internationals and three Twenty20 matches in the island nation starting July 13 in Colombo, according to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The Indian Test team led by Virat Kohli are in England to face New Zealand for the World Test Championship final between June 18-22 and then stay on for a five-Test series against the hosts.
Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Varun Chakravarthy have been named in the 20-member squad. Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson have been picked as wicketkeepers.
Dhawan will be assisted by fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who has been named vice-captain.
The final two ODI matches will be played on July 16 and 18 followed by the three T20 games on July 21, 23, and 25.
Squad: Shikhar Dhawan (Captain), Prithvi Shaw, Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Suryakumar Yadav, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Rana, Ishan Kishan (Wicket-keeper), Sanju Samson (Wicket-keeper), Yuzvendra Chahal, Rahul Chahar, K Gowtham, Krunal Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Vice-captain), Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini, Chetan Sakariya
Net bowlers: Ishan Porel, Sandeep Warrier, Arshdeep Singh, Sai Kishore, Simarjeet Singh