Shikhar Dhawan, famously known as “the Gabbar” of Indian cricket, stands out as one of the most stylish and consistent batsmen in Indian cricket history. Born on December 5, 1985, into a Punjabi family in Delhi, he has made a significant impact on both international and domestic cricket. His father’s name is Mahendra Pal Dhawan, and his mother’s name is Sunaina Dhawan. Dhawan’s elegance and aggressive batting style, combined with his lefthanded approach, make him a delight to watch. Known for his ability to perform in high-pressure situations, especially in ICC tournaments, he has earned the nickname “Mr. ICC.”
Early Life and Domestic Career
Shikhar Dhawan was born and raised in Delhi, where he attended St. Mark’s Senior Secondary Public School. His cricket journey began at the age of twelve when he joined the Sonnet Cricket Club, one of Delhi’s most prestigious cricket academies, under the guidance of coach Tarak Sinha. The Sonnet Club has produced many Indian cricketers, and Dhawan’s talent was evident from a young age.
Dhawan first showcased his talent in the 1999/00 Vijay Merchant Trophy, playing for Delhi’s Under 16 team. His outstanding performance in the tournament, where he was the leading runscorer with 755 runs in 9 innings at an average of 83.88, helped Delhi reach the finals. His consistent performances at the junior level earned him a spot in the India Under17 team for the 2000/01 Asia Cup, where he continued to impress with a remarkable average of 85.
In the 2001/02 season, Dhawan was selected for the Delhi Under19 team in the Vijay Merchant Trophy, scoring 282 runs in 5 innings. His consistent performances led to his selection as the captain of the Delhi Under19 team. Dhawan’s first major international exposure came in the 2004 Under19 ICC Cricket World Cup, where he was the leading runscorer and was named the Player of the Tournament.
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Transition to Senior Cricket
Shikhar Dhawan made his senior debut in domestic cricket during the 2004–05 Ranji Trophy season, playing for Delhi against Andhra. He was the leading runscorer for Delhi in his debut season, solidifying his place in the team. His impressive domestic performances earned him a spot in the India A team to play against a touring Pakistan team.
From the 2004–05 season onward, Dhawan became a regular member of the Delhi Ranji team. His consistent performances in domestic cricket caught the selectors’ attention, and he was selected for the Indian ODI team for a three-match series against Australia. Dhawan made his ODI debut on October 20, 2010, in Visakhapatnam. He made his T20 International debut against the West Indies in Port of Spain on June 4, 2011.
International Career Highlights
Shikhar Dhawan’s breakthrough in international cricket came in 2013. He was selected for the Indian Test squad for the four-match series against Australia. Dhawan made his Test debut on March 14, 2013, in Mohali, and he had a dream debut, scoring 187 runs off 174 balls. His century, which came off just 85 balls, broke the record for the fastest century by a debutant in Test cricket, previously held by Gundappa Viswanath. This innings was named the best batting performance of 2013 by ESPN Cricinfo.
Later that year, Dhawan played a crucial role in India’s victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013, held in England. He was the leading runscorer of the tournament, scoring 363 runs in five matches at an average of 90.75, and was named the Player of the Tournament. This performance established Dhawan as a key player in India’s limited-overs setup.
In the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup, Dhawan was the leading runscorer for India, with 412 runs in eight matches. He continued his excellent form in ICC tournaments, winning the Golden Bat for being the top runscorer in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, making him the only batsman to win two consecutive Golden Bats in the tournament’s history.
IPL Career and Achievements
Shikhar Dhawan’s IPL journey began with the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in the inaugural season in 2008. He had a decent start, scoring 340 runs in 14 matches. In 2009, he moved to the Mumbai Indians, where he struggled to find form, playing only 15 matches over two seasons.
In 2011, Dhawan joined the Deccan Chargers, which proved to be a turning point in his IPL career. He scored 400 runs in 14 matches that season, followed by 569 runs in 15 matches in the 2012 season. When the Deccan Chargers were rebranded as Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2013, Dhawan continued to perform consistently. He scored over 300 runs in the 2013 season, cementing his place as a top opener in the IPL.
Over the next few seasons with Sunrisers Hyderabad, Dhawan’s performance remained consistent:
| 2014 | 377 runs in 14 matches |
| 2015 | 353 runs in 14 matches |
| 2016 | 501 runs in 17 matches, helping Sunrisers Hyderabad win their maiden IPL title |
| 2017 | 479 runs in 14 matches |
| 2018 | 497 runs in 16 matches |
In 2019, Dhawan returned to Delhi Capitals, where he had three prolific seasons, scoring over 500 runs each season:
| 2019 | 521 runs in 16 matches |
| 2020 | 618 runs in 17 matches, including back-to-back centuries |
| 2021 | 587 runs in 16 matches |
In the 2022 IPL auction, Dhawan was bought by Punjab Kings for INR 8.25 crore. He scored 460 runs in his first season and 373 runs in 2023.
Shikhar Dhawan IPL Statistics
Batting Stats
| Year | Mat | Runs | AVG | SR | HS | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s |
| Career | 222 | 6769 | 35.26 | 127.14 | 106 | 2 | 51 | 768 | 152 |
| 2024 | 5 | 152 | 30.40 | 125.62 | 70 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 4 |
| 2023 | 11 | 373 | 41.44 | 142.91 | 99 | 0 | 3 | 49 | 12 |
| 2022 | 14 | 460 | 38.33 | 122.67 | 88 | 0 | 3 | 47 | 12 |
| 2021 | 16 | 587 | 39.13 | 124.62 | 92 | 0 | 3 | 63 | 16 |
| 2020 | 17 | 618 | 44.14 | 144.73 | 106 | 2 | 4 | 67 | 12 |
| 2019 | 16 | 521 | 34.73 | 135.67 | 97 | 0 | 5 | 64 | 11 |
| 2018 | 16 | 497 | 38.23 | 136.91 | 92 | 0 | 4 | 59 | 14 |
| 2017 | 14 | 479 | 36.84 | 127.39 | 77 | 0 | 3 | 53 | 9 |
| 2016 | 17 | 501 | 38.53 | 116.78 | 82 | 0 | 4 | 51 | 8 |
| 2015 | 14 | 353 | 27.15 | 123.42 | 54 | 0 | 3 | 45 | 6 |
| 2014 | 14 | 377 | 29 | 118.18 | 64 | 0 | 2 | 49 | 7 |
| 2013 | 10 | 311 | 38.87 | 122.92 | 73 | 0 | 3 | 37 | 5 |
| 2012 | 15 | 569 | 40.64 | 129.61 | 84 | 0 | 5 | 58 | 18 |
| 2011 | 14 | 400 | 33.33 | 129.03 | 95 | 0 | 2 | 47 | 7 |
| 2010 | 10 | 191 | 19.1 | 112.35 | 56 | 0 | 2 | 23 | 3 |
| 2009 | 5 | 40 | 10 | 88.88 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2008 | 14 | 340 | 37.77 | 115.25 | 68 | 0 | 4 | 35 | 8 |
Bowling Stats
| YEAR | MAT | WKTS | BBM | AVE | ECON | SR | 4W | 5W |
| Career | 221 | 4 | 1/7 | 23.25 | 11.63 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 4 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 11 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 14 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 16 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | 17 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 16 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | 16 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | 14 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 17 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 14 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 14 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | 10 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | 15 | 3 | 1/8 | 18.33 | 9.16 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | 14 | 1 | 1/7 | 11 | 5.5 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 10 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 5 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 14 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 |
Fielding Stats
| YEAR | CT | ST |
| Career | 102 | 0 |
| 2024 | 3 | 0 |
| 2023 | 4 | 0 |
| 2022 | 10 | 0 |
| 2021 | 9 | 0 |
| 2020 | 5 | 0 |
| 2019 | 5 | 0 |
| 2018 | 12 | 0 |
| 2017 | 7 | 0 |
| 2016 | 5 | 0 |
| 2015 | 6 | 0 |
| 2014 | 5 | 0 |
| 2013 | 6 | 0 |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 |
| 2011 | 6 | 0 |
| 2010 | 4 | 0 |
| 2009 | 2 | 0 |
| 2008 | 8 | 0 |
IPL Auction Price History
Dhawan has played for six IPL teams and has never gone unsold in any IPL auction. Here is a summary of his IPL auction price history:
| Year | Team | Salary (in Rs) |
| 2008 | Delhi Daredevils | INR 12 Lakh |
| 2009 | Mumbai Indians | INR 12 Lakh |
| 2010 | Mumbai Indians | INR 12 Lakh |
| 2011 | Deccan Chargers | INR 1.38 Cr |
| 2012 | Deccan Chargers | INR 1.38 Cr |
| 2013 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | INR 1.38 Cr |
| 2014 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | INR 12.50 Cr |
| 2015 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | INR 12.50 Cr |
| 2016 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | INR 12.50 Cr |
| 2017 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | INR 12.50 Cr |
| 2018 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | INR 5.20 Cr |
| 2019 | Delhi Capitals | INR 5.20 Cr |
| 2020 | Delhi Capitals | INR 5.20 Cr |
| 2021 | Delhi Capitals | INR 5.20 Cr |
| 2022 | Punjab Kings | INR 8.25 Cr |
| 2023 | Punjab Kings | INR 8.25 Cr |
Recent Performance
Dhawan’s recent IPL performances include:
| Match | Against | Runs |
| Match no. 17, 2024 | GT | 1 (2) |
| Match no. 11, 2024 | LSG | 70 (50) |
| Match no. 6, 2024 | RCB | 45 (37) |
| Match no. 2, 2024 | DC | 22 (16) |
| Match no. 66, 2023 | RR | 17 (12) |
| Match no. 64, 2023 | DC | 0 (1) |
| Match 59, 2023 | DC | 7 (5) |
| Match 53, 2023 | KKR | 57 (47) |
| Match 46, 2023 | MI | 30 (20) |
| Match 41, 2023 | CSK | 28 (15) |
Personal Life
Shikhar Dhawan’s personal life has seen its ups and downs. He married Ayesha Mukherjee, an amateur kickboxer from Australia, in 2012. Ayesha was twelve years older than Dhawan and had two daughters from a previous marriage. The couple had a son, Zoravar, in 2014 and initially settled in Australia. However, the couple divorced in October 2023.
Despite the challenges in his personal life, Dhawan remains a fun-loving and cheerful person, often seen smiling and making jokes on and off the field. He currently lives in Delhi.
FAQs
1. How many centuries has Shikhar Dhawan scored in the IPL?
Ans: Shikhar Dhawan has scored 2 centuries in the IPL, both of which came in the 2020 season.
2. How many runs has Shikhar Dhawan scored in the IPL?
Ans: Shikhar Dhawan is the second-leading run-scorer in IPL history after Virat Kohli, with 6755 runs in 221 matches.
3. What is Shikhar Dhawan’s net worth?
Ans: According to an article published by Zee News India, Shikhar Dhawan has a net worth of around 125 crore rupees.
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