Gabbar of Indian Cricket: Inspiring Biography of Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan is one of India's most charismatic and successful opening batsmen, known for his aggressive batting style, remarkable consistency in ICC tournaments and a personality full of confidence and positivity. With his distinctive mustache twirling, infectious smile and laid-back attitude, Dhawan has established himself as a modern legend in Indian cricket. He has been a key part of many memorable victories, especially in limited overs cricket, and his journey reflects determination, resilience and change.
Shikar Dhawan Biography
shikhar dhawan cricbuzz
Early life and background
Shikhar Dhawan was born on 5 December 1985 in Delhi, India to parents Sunaina and Mahendra Pal Dhawan, who were from a Punjabi family. He grew up in West Delhi and attended St. Mark's Senior Secondary Public School. As a child, Dhawan was fond of sports and demonstrated natural athletic abilities. At the age of 12, he joined Sonnet Cricket Academy, one of the best cricket coaching centers in Delhi, where he trained under the guidance of renowned coach Tarak Sinha. Initially, he started as a wicketkeeper before becoming a full-time opening batsman.
growth in domestic cricket
Dhawan quickly gained attention in junior cricket. He was the leading run-scorer in the 2004 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup with 505 runs including three centuries. Despite this excellent performance, he did not receive an immediate call-up to the Indian national team and continued to work hard in domestic cricket for Delhi.
He made his first-class debut in 2004 and over the next few years, he became one of the most consistent performers in the Ranji Trophy. His tenacity eventually earned him recognition and he became an important part of Delhi's batting lineup along with players like Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli.
International debut and decider
Shikhar Dhawan made his ODI debut for India on 20 October 2010 against Australia. His debut was not successful and he struggled in his early international matches. However, Dhawan never gave up and kept performing strongly in domestic tournaments and IPL, waiting for the right opportunity.
His big breakthrough came in March 2013, when he made his Test debut against Australia in Mohali. Dhawan scored a brilliant 187 runs off 174 balls, which at that time was the fastest century by any batsman on Test debut. It was a record-breaking performance that made him an instant national star. From that day onwards, Dhawan established himself as a fearless opening batsman for India across all formats.
ICC Tournament Hero
Shikhar Dhawan has earned special fame by performing brilliantly in ICC tournaments. He was the leading run-scorer of the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, where India emerged as champions, and was awarded the Player of the Tournament. He repeated his feat again in the 2015 Cricket World Cup and 2017 Champions Trophy and became the fastest batsman to score 1,000 runs in an ICC tournament.
Some of his memorable tournament statistics include:
tournament run achievement
ICC Champions Trophy 2013 363 Player of the Tournament
ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 412 India reaches semi-finals
ICC Champions Trophy 2017 338 Highest run scorer
These performances proved Dhawan's ability to shine on the big stages and cemented his image as a big-match player.
IPL career
Dhawan has been one of the most successful batsmen in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Over the years, he has played for several teams including:
Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals)
Mumbai Indians
Sunrisers Hyderabad
punjab kings
Dhawan played a major role in Sunrisers Hyderabad's 2016 IPL win, making consistent contributions at the top. He is one of the highest run-scorers in IPL history and has achieved the feat of scoring back-to-back centuries, becoming the first player to do so in IPL 2020.
Batting style and strength
He is known for his fearless and aggressive attitude. A left-handed opening batsman, he plays brilliant cover drives, powerful cuts and lofted shots with ease. His ability to rotate the strike, build partnerships and score runs quickly in powerplay overs makes him a valuable asset in white-ball cricket. He is also an excellent fielder with a fast throwing arm.
leadership qualities
Dhawan has also captained the Indian team in limited formats when senior players have been rested. Under his leadership, India won several series, including the win against Sri Lanka and the 2021 Sri Lanka tour.
His calm and positive leadership style has earned the respect of both young players and fans.
personal life
Shikhar Dhawan married Australia-based kickboxer Ayesha Mukherjee of Indian-Bengali origin in 2012. The couple have a son, Zoravar, and Dhawan was also a caring father to Ayesha's daughters from her previous marriage. They got divorced in 2021 and Dhawan faced emotional challenges but he handled the situation with maturity and dignity. He has spoken openly about mental strength and overcoming difficult times.
Achievements and Records
Fastest century on test debut (85 balls)
Leading run-scorer in ICC Champions Trophy (2013 and 2017)
The only player to win the Golden Bat twice in the Champions Trophy
Over 10,000 international runs across all formats
Arjuna Award recipients (2021)
Legacy and influence
Shikhar Dhawan's journey is an inspiring story of determination and self-confidence. Despite facing injuries, form problems and personal struggles, he remained strong and focused. He is praised for his humility, discipline and positive outlook towards life.
Dhawan may not be seen regularly in the current Indian playing XI due to new players joining the team, but he remains a respected senior figure, mentor and inspiration to millions.
shikhar dhawan stats
He once said: "What's for you will come, and what's not for you will pass. Just keep smiling and working hard."

Highlight his inspirational journey from domestic cricket struggles to becoming a world-class opener and ICC tournament hero.
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