Ishan Kishan’s Double Ton Led to Shikhar Dhawan Doubting His Cricket Future

He made his way into the Indian white-ball setup as a replacement for Gautam Gambhir. Often celebrated as a ‘big-match’ player for his display in major ICC tournaments, Dhawan was instrumental in India’s 2013 Champions Trophy victory, leading the scoring charts with 363 runs at an average of 90.75, earning him the Player of the Tournament award. His strong form continued into the 2015 ODI World Cup, where he scored 412 runs, finishing as the fifth-highest run-getter.

Shikhar Dhawan notably has an impressive batting average of 65.15 in ICC World Cups and Champions Trophies, the highest for any batter with at least 1000 runs in those tournaments. However, with time, the 39-year-old’s form declined, as a result of which the Indian team management began prioritizing younger talents. Unable to keep pace with this shift, Dhawan lost his spot in India’s white-ball squad in 2022.

The elegant left-handed batter, who had built a reputation as a reliable player alongside fellow Team India opener Rohit Sharma , did not get the farewell he had hoped for, as he quietly announced his retirement in August 2024.

Most recently, in an interview with Hindustan Times, Shikhar Dhawan recounted an old memory from his last international match against Bangladesh in 2022, which made him realize that his career was nearing its abrupt end.

Dhawan revealed that Ishan Kishan‘s blistering 210-run innings off just 130 balls in the third ODI against Bangladesh in 2022 made him question his own cricketing future. He, himself had only managed to score three runs in that match. He further shared that the challenging situation was made even tougher by a lack of support from his teammates, with only then-India head coach Rahul Dravid offering assistance.

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… But I was chilling, I was enjoying.

Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan, despite being touted as Shikhar Dhawan’s potential successor, has struggled to retain his place in the Indian side owing to his inconsistent displays. He faces stiff competition from other talented left-handed batters, including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma.

Indian Cricket Stars Thriving in County Championship: Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma Impress

Several young Indian players have been enjoying their stint in the ongoing 2025 County Championship. Four Indian players are plying their trade in the tournament, including Ishan Kishan (Nottinghamshire), Tilak Varma (Hampshire), Yuzvendra Chahal (Northamptonshire) and Khaleel Ahmed (Essex).

Ishan Kishan had a strong showing, scoring 87 off 98 balls in his debut match against Yorkshire, and then 77 off 128 against Somerset. Tilak Varma also impressed, hitting a century on his County debut against Essex, followed by scores of 56 and 47, against Worcestershire. Meanwhile, Khaleel Ahmed, playing for Essex, scalped a wicket in his first County appearance, against Yorkshire.

Meanwhile, Yuzvendra Chahal, in his second successive County season, picked up a brilliant four-wicket haul for his side, against Kent. In addition to these players, CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has also signed to play in England this season and will be representing Yorkshire in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.