The Indian cricket community celebrated the 38th birthday of veteran batter Shikhar Dhawan on Tuesday, showering him with warm wishes on social media. Dhawan, a stylish left-handed batsman, has had a notable career, showcasing his talent in all three formats of the game.

Known for his aggressive style of play and crucial match-winning performances, Dhawan has been a stalwart for the Indian cricket team. Despite reaching the age of 38, he continues to actively participate in both domestic and international cricket.

The outpouring of wishes from fellow cricketers, fans, and well-wishers on social media is a testament to the impact and respect Dhawan has earned throughout his illustrious career.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) joined the choir of well-wishers in congratulating the accomplished player on the social media platform X. In a post on X, BCCI highlighted Dhawan's extraordinary cricketing journey, recognising his impressive figures throughout 269 international matches and a total of 10,867 international runs.

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Punjab Kings also congratulated the batter and wrote, "The eyes, Chico, they never lie."

Dhawan, who has represented India in 34 Tests, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is with over 10,000 international runs, has a meritorious report card in 50-over global ICC tournaments.

He has featured in the 2013 and 2017 Champions Trophy and the 2015 and 2019 editions of the Cricket World Cup, in these, he has amassed 1,238 runs at 65.15 average, including six centuries.

Dhawan played a vital role in India's 2013 Champions Trophy triumph. He topped the batting charts in the showpiece event, winning the 'Man of the Tournament' award. In five matches, he scored 363 runs at an average of 90.75, with two centuries and one fifty. His best score was 114.

Though India's 50-over World Cup title defence stopped at the semifinal in 2015, 'Gabbar' still won many hearts with his batting performances, massively outdoing both Rohit and Virat. In eight matches, he aggregated 412 runs at an average of 51.50, with two centuries and one fifty. He finished the event as India's top scorer and overall, the fifth-highest scorer in the tournament.

It was the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy that saw Dhawan return to prime form. In India's runner-up finish, it was Dhawan who topped the tournament's batting charts in yet another ICC tournament. He scored 338 runs in five matches at an average of 67.60, with one century and two fifties, with a best score of 125.

In India's 2018 Asia Cup win, Shikhar impressed once again, helping India clinch their seventh title. In five matches, he scored 342 runs at an average of 68.40, with two centuries.

Dhawan last played for India a year ago, when he appeared in an ODI series in Bangladesh

 

Inputs from ANI