Shikhar Dhawan Reflects on His Early Career Challenges

Synopsis
Shikhar Dhawan shares his early career struggles during a motivating event with underprivileged children, discussing the challenges he overcame to achieve cricket stardom. His journey serves as an inspiration for aspiring cricketers.
Key Takeaways
- Dhawan's early sacrifices were crucial for his cricketing success.
- He faced numerous challenges while starting out in the sport.
- His work with the Shikhar Dhawan Foundation aims to uplift underprivileged children.
- Dhawan's journey exemplifies dedication and perseverance.
- He has made significant contributions to Indian cricket over 13 years.
New Delhi, Jan 15 (NationPress) Former India captain Shikhar Dhawan recently opened up about the initial hurdles he faced in his cricket career during an inspiring event with aspiring cricketers from various NGOs, organized by the Shikhar Dhawan Foundation. In a discussion with underprivileged youth, Dhawan shared the difficulties he encountered when he began playing cricket.
“I began my cricketing journey at a young age with a local club, trained for a year, and finally got a chance to compete in a tournament after that. For an entire year, I took on various responsibilities, such as rolling the pitch, fetching tea for the coaches, and spending long hours in the sun, all just to earn 10 minutes of batting time at the day's end,” Dhawan recounted to IANS.
These early sacrifices and relentless efforts ultimately paved the way for his success as a globally recognized cricketer.
Through his foundation, Dhawan seeks to positively influence the lives of these children, providing them with both material necessities and emotional encouragement. His journey from modest beginnings to cricketing fame emphasizes the values of perseverance and dedication.
Dhawan made his international debut in 2010 and swiftly became a crucial member of the Indian team, celebrated for his dynamic batting and engaging personality on and off the field. Throughout the years, he has played a vital role in numerous victories for India across all formats.
In his 13-year-long international career, he participated in 34 Tests, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is, amassing 2315, 6793, and 1579 runs respectively. Alongside his stellar international career, Dhawan represented Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Punjab in the Indian Premier League, competing in 222 matches and scoring 6769 runs, which included two centuries and 51 half-centuries.
After a remarkable cricketing career that lasted over a decade, Dhawan officially announced his retirement from all formats of international cricket in August 2024.