Shikhar Dhawan retires: Will he be available to play in IPL next year?

Shikhar Dhawan the tenthhighest runscorer for India in One Day Internationals ODIs officially announced his retirement on Saturday from both international and domestic cricket The 38yearold made the announcement through a heartfelt video posted on his social media accountsDhawanrsquos international career began in October 2010 and he leaves behind a legacy that includes 34 Test matches 167 ODIs and 68 Twenty20 Internationals T20Is for India His Test career saw him amass 2315 runs at an average of 4061 while in ODIs he scored 6793 runs at an impressive average of 4411 In T20Is he accumulated 1759 runs with an average of 2792 Throughout his career Dhawan hit seven centuries in Test cricket and 17 in the ODI formatRenowned for his aggressive batting style and a penchant for delivering in highstakes ICC events Dhawan carved out a distinguished niche in Indian cricket He was the top runscorer for India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 a tournament India won by defeating England Additionally he was the leading runscorer for India in the 2015 World Cup and topped the run charts once again in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 Dhawan also led the runscoring in the Asia Cup 2018Also Read5 standout innings that marked Shikhar Dhawans legacyThe opening partnership of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan became one of the most prolific in Indian cricket history Together they amassed 5148 runs in 115 innings at an average of 4555 This partnership stands among the top three opening pairs in ODI cricket history in terms of run accumulationIn his retirement announcement Dhawan reflected on his career with a sense of fulfillment ldquoItrsquos important to turn the page to move forward in life and thatrsquos why I am announcing my retirement from international and domestic cricket I am leaving with peace in my heart that I played so long for India Irsquove told myself not to feel sad about not playing for India anymore but to feel happy that I had the honor of representing the countryrdquo he stated in his video postAs I close this chapter of my cricketing journey I carry with me countless memories and gratitude Thank you for the love and support Jai Hind pictwittercomQKxRH55Lgxmdash Shikhar Dhawan SDhawan25 August 24 2024Shikhar Dhawan retires Whats next for Indias GabbarThe announcement has understandably left fans curious about the future of Dhawanrsquos cricketing journey particularly concerning his participation in the Indian Premier League IPL Over his IPL career Dhawan has represented several teams including Delhi Capitals DC Mumbai Indians MI Deccan Chargers Sunrisers Hyderabad SRH and Punjab Kings PBKS With 222 matches to his name he is currently the secondhighest runscorer in IPL history trailing only Virat Kohli Dhawan has accumulated 6768 runs in 221 innings with an average of 3507 and a strike rate of 12712 His last IPL appearance which also marked his final professional outing was against SRH in Mullanpur Chandigarh on April 9Also Read Usse accha lagta tha whenever I sang Shikhar Dhawan on his bond with Rohit SharmaIn IPL 2024 Dhawan served as the captain of Punjab Kings PBKS Unfortunately his season was cut short to just five matches due to a shoulder injury Under his leadership Punjab Kings finished secondlast in the 10team tournament securing only five wins out of 14 league stage matchesDhawanrsquos retirement announcement did not address his IPL future leading to speculation among fans Earlier reports suggested that Punjab Kings might not be keen on retaining Dhawan for IPL 2025 As a result uncertainty surrounds whether Dhawan will continue playing in the IPL or retire from competitive cricket altogetherA resolution regarding Shikhar Dhawanrsquos IPL future is anticipated soon as fans and stakeholders await clarity on his next steps For now Dhawans illustrious career characterized by his aggressive flair and crucial contributions in major tournaments remains a testament to his enduring impact on the game