End of Gabbar’s reign! India might never see another Shikhar Dhawan

He came, he saw, he conquered.

When the great Sachin Tendulkar bestowed the Test cap upon Shikhar Dhawan, he remarked, "We know about your guts. Show us some."

Dhawan must have taken his words to heart back then, for he managed to create an aura, over time, that on its days could swallow reputations and rewrite history.

Paying tribute, India captain Rohit Sharma tweeted that his job was made easier by Shikhar Dhawan whenever the latter demolished bowlers during their opening stints. He can't be accused of exaggeration because watching Dhawan bat was, as many fans would agree, mystical.

How else can you explain a batsman racing to his century in just 85 balls with a flurry of boundaries on his Test debut against Australia?

Like a ‘true Gabbar' as tweeted by Mohammed Shami, Dhawan was forever distinctive and daring, achieving notable milestones with colossal hits that sent the ball soaring into the stands each time he stepped in. Despite the presence of big-hitters Sharma, Virat Kohli, and MS Dhoni in the lineup, he once ascended to become India's most coveted wicket.

"What he has done for India is fantastic! No words for him. First, I played with him in the DY Patil Group-managed T20 tournament…I captained him (laughs), I was very lucky to have captained him," Punjab Kings' Shashank Singh told Mid-Day over the phone.

Shashank and Shikhar go a long way.

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Dhawan first got a glimpse of Singh's captaincy at the DY Patil Invitational tournament in Navi Mumbai earlier this year. Dhawan was particularly struck by Singh's approach to leadership. Despite the presence of established cricketers with their seasoned perspectives, Singh's strategic acumen and the meticulousness with which he prepared for each game were evident, giving Dhawan a clear insight into his capabilities. And by the time the IPL season approached, Dhawan's initial impressions had solidified into firm confidence. And did Singh deliver.

"At Punjab Kings too, I made it to the top in the IPL because of his guidance and the way he has nurtured me as a youngster. I was very lucky and grateful. I remember my first interaction with him at the DY Patil tournament. He came up to me and said, ‘Shashank, whatever number you want me to bat, I will bat. Just treat me as a normal company player'. He is such a humble and down-to-earth person, because someone of his calibre, coming up to me, I was just a normal domestic player in front of him, and saying that he could bat at any position…says a lot. Not only me, everyone at that tournament loved him (sic)," he added.

Throughout his international career, IPL ventures, and domestic forays, ‘Gabbar' Dhawan embodied a curious mix of tenacity, resourcefulness, and self-sacrifice, all while wearing a smile that seemed perpetually glued to his face. His persona was a striking amalgam of dedication and cheerful persistence, almost to a fault.

Although his Test debut was notable, Dhawan's true prowess was realized in ODIs. In this realm, he racked up a staggering 6,793 runs at a decidedly decent average of 44.11. The figure is hardly world-shattering, but it includes a not-so-modest tally of 17 centuries and 39 fifties. Not bad for someone whose greatest asset, according to some, was his spectacularly flamboyant hat-trick of shots.Shikhar Dhawan (L) and Rohit Sharma take a single during the sixth match of the Tri-Nation series between India and Sri Lanka in 2013 (Pic: AFP)

Now, his Test career? With 2,315 runs at an average of 40.61, including a paltry seven centuries, Dhawan's Test exploits seem like a prolonged exercise in mediocrity. The Indian cricketing cosmos had high expectations, particularly after that blazing start. But Dhawan, in a display of rare cricketing stoicism, never bothered to moan or groan about the modest yield from his Test career. He embraced it all with a grin that suggested he was perfectly content to be an eternal enigma.

One may have expected a flood of cryptic social media musings or passive-aggressive tweets after being snubbed by selectors, but Dhawan, ever the model of dignified restraint, offered none of that, ever. His social media presence was a refreshing haven of positivity, no veiled insults, no sarcastic jabs, no melodramatic flair. Even when facing personal turmoil, he maintained his serene demeanour. The man's grace under pressure was nothing short of an art form, quite literally!

Consider his heartfelt public messages before major tournaments like the ODI World Cup in 2023 and the T20 World Cup in the Americas. Dhawan managed to keep his tone uplifting and supportive, wishing his teammates well and hoping for the team's success, whether he was included or not. It was almost as if he believed in the power of positive thinking, a quaint notion that often eludes less harmonious souls.

In a particularly touching social media post following his retirement announcement, Shikhar Dhawan's final reflection on his career was a masterclass in graceful resignation. "...And that's why I tell myself, don't be sad that you won't play for India again but be happy that you played for your country. And that's the biggest thing for me, that I played," he mused. Ah, the height of self-acceptance and contentment in his words, truly, a sentiment that would make even the most cynical sports writer's heart flutter.

Let's not forget his significant role in India's last ICC triumph - the 2013 Champions Trophy in England, where his heroics at the top of the order in challenging, seaming conditions were instrumental, earning him the ‘Player of the Tournament' award. A rare moment of glory in what can only be described as an otherwise turbulent career.

Despite his reputation as Indian cricket's 'Gabbar,' with his signature thigh-clap celebration that was as endearing as it was enigmatic, Dhawan didn't exactly start with a bang. His international debut was less than stellar, marked by a two-ball duck against Australia. A rather unceremonious start, one might say! However, after stumbling out of the gate, he did make a grand return in 2013. Dhawan firmly established himself across all three formats with performances that were, quite frankly, a mix of dazzling brilliance and unremarkable consistency.

Among the highlights of his career, one would find a splendid 137 against South African fast-bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel in the 2015 ODI World Cup. A moment that surely stands out in Dhawan's memory, if only because it allowed him to dazzle with his flair against a formidable attack.

But let's not forget the 109-ball 117 in the 2019 World Cup against Australia at The Oval. A knock that was perhaps his last significant contribution in Indian colours, an almost fitting end to a career characterised by fleeting brilliance. After all, what's a career without a dramatic climax?

Dhawan's tenure in international white-ball cricket, alongside the luminary Sharma and the indomitable Kohli, was nothing short of legendary, or so the cricketing hype machine would have us believe. This trio, strutting their stuff from 2013 to 2019, was hailed as an unparalleled triumvirate. Yet, Dhawan, the humble, unassuming third wheel, didn't quite manage to etch himself into the annals of greatness with the same flamboyance as his counterparts.

All three peak performers were in their prime, but Dhawan was perpetually the one left in the shadows, overshadowed by the more illustrious Sharma and Kohli. One could argue that the reason for Dhawan's relative obscurity was his knack for interspersing scintillating innings with prolonged periods of mediocrity. Such erratic form does tend to dampen the fanfare and so it did.

In domestic cricket, he was an undeniable standout, rising to stardom during the 2004 U-19 World Cup. Yet, despite this early promise, it wasn't until 2013 that he truly managed to capture the attention of the Indian public. It was almost as if the cricketing world needed to endure a prolonged game of hide-and-seek before recognizing Dhawan's true potential.

His batting skills may have waned in his later years but his stint with cricket remained a unique spectacle, celebrated for its originality and the bold attitude driving it. History might be indifferent to his legacy, but one thing remains clear: wherever Dhawan was, there was magic.