Shikhar Dhawan Announces Retirement from Cricket

Shikhar Dhawan, the former Indian opener, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket at 38, citing a loss of motivation to pursue domestic cricket as a key factor. Dhawan played 34 Tests, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is, and served as India's ODI captain, but felt that his recent focus on the IPL diminished his competitive edge. He expressed gratitude for his career achievements, including his success in the IPL and leading India to several victories, while acknowledging the need for younger players like Shubman Gill to take the stage. In his reflections, he emphasized the importance of inspiration and passion in a player's journey, stating, 'I didn’t have that inspiration from inside to play that (form of) cricket anymore.' Despite not winning a World Cup, Dhawan expressed satisfaction with his accomplishments and pride in the team's successes under Rohit Sharma's captaincy.