“I Took Painkillers To Continue To Bat” – Shikhar Dhawan Recalls His Most Memorable Match After Announcing Retirement

Delhi-born left-handed batter Shikhar Dhawan is widely regarded as one of India’s finest white-ball openers. Known for his formidable partnership with Rohit Sharma, Dhawan consistently tormented opposition bowlers during his career.

After recently announcing his retirement from all forms of cricket, the 38-year-old reflected on his best ODI knock, which came during the 2019 ICC ODI World Cup against Australia.

In an interview with Hindustan Times, Dhawan recounted the pain he endured while scoring a century against the mighty Australians at The Oval. “During the 2019 ODI World Cup innings at the Oval against Australia, I was batting on 25 when I got injured. I took a painkiller and continued to bat, eventually scoring 117 off 109 balls. I was named Player of the Match, and I’m thankful to my captain, MS Dhoni, for backing me,” Dhawan shared.

His century was crucial in helping India post a formidable total of 352/5, ultimately leading to a 36-run victory over Australia. Despite half-centuries from David Warner, Steve Smith, and Alex Carey, the Australians fell short of the target.

Shikhar Dhawan On His Test Debut

Dhawan also highlighted his best Test knock, which, like his ODI milestone, was against Australia. After proving his mettle in white-ball cricket, Dhawan earned his Test debut in 2013. In that match, he scored a remarkable 187 runs, reaching his century in just 85 balls, the fastest by a Test debutant. His explosive innings helped India secure a six-wicket victory in Mohali, earning him the ‘Player of the Match’ award.

Reflecting on this achievement, Dhawan said, “My Test debut in 2013, where I made 187 against Australia, was unforgettable. When I scored a century in 85 balls, I had no idea I had set a world record for the fastest century by a debutant.”

Interestingly, Dhawan’s international debut also came in an ODI series against Australia, though it didn’t start as successfully—he was dismissed for a two-ball duck. Despite this rocky start, Dhawan went on to have an illustrious career, cementing his place as one of India’s most dependable and celebrated cricketers who always stepped-up in crucial moments, especially in the ICC events and his performance in the 2013 Champions Trophy will forever be memorable for many Indian cricket fans.