Shikhar Dhawan retires, hopes son remembers him beyond cricket
What's the story
Shikhar Dhawan, the renowned Indian cricketer, has announced his retirement from both international and domestic cricket.
Following his divorce from Aesha Mukerji in October 2023, Dhawan expressed a heartfelt wish for his son Zoravar to remember him as a good human being.
The couple was granted divorce by a Delhi court due to allegations of mental cruelty against Mukerji.
Here are further details.
Father's wish
Dhawan's emotional message to son post-retirement
Dhawan has had no contact with his 11-year-old son Zoravar since the divorce.
In an interview with Hindustan Times, he expressed a deep desire for his son to remember him as a good human being.
"Zoravar is 11 now. I hope he gets to know about my retirement and all about my cricket journey," Dhawan said.
He further added, "But more than as a cricketer, I would like for Zoravar to remember me as a good human being."
Personal life
Dhawan's marriage and family life
Dhawan and Mukerji got married in 2012 and welcomed their son Zoravar in 2014.
In his divorce plea, Dhawan claimed that Mukerji had initially promised to live with him in India but was unable to do so due to her responsibilities toward her daughters from a previous marriage in Australia.
He has previously expressed a longing to spend quality time with his son, revealing that they haven't spoken for five to six months.
Career highlights
Dhawan's illustrious cricket career
Dhawan, aged 38, retires after representing India in 34 Tests, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is.
He has scored a total of 2,315 runs in Tests, 6,793 runs in ODIs and 1,759 runs in T20Is.
His impressive career includes a record of hitting the fastest century on Test debut.
Dhawan's last international appearance was against Bangladesh in December last year.
Achievements
Dhawan's impressive career and achievements
Dhawan's career was marked by several significant achievements. He scored 24 centuries, with 17 in ODIs and seven in Tests.
He was also a key member of the Indian squad that won the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013 under MS Dhoni's captaincy.
In that tournament, he emerged as the leading run-scorer with 363 runs from five matches at an average of 90.75, including two centuries and one 50.