"Broke my thumb and scored 117 runs" Shikhar Dhawan picks his best ODI innings

Shikhar Dhawan announced his retirement on Saturday. He finished his career with 17 ODI centuries and seven test centuries.

Veteran Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket on August 22, 2024, bringing an end to a glorious 13-year international career.

Dhawan bows out as one of the most successful ODI openers. He scored 6793 at an average of 44 and a strike rate of 91 with 17 centuries. He is one of eight batsmen with over 5000 ODI runs at a 40-plus average and a 90-plus strike rate.

He was the leading run-scorer in the 2013 Champions Trophy, which India won. He was India’s highest scorer in the Asia Cup 2014, World Cup 2015, Champions Trophy 2017 and Asia Cup 2018.

He could have been among the top scorers in the 2019 World Cup as well if his campaign was not cut short by a thumb injury early in the tournament.

Shikhar Dhawan picks his century vs Australia in the 2019 World Cup as his best knock

In India’s second match in the 2019 World Cup, Dhawan cracked a brilliant century against Australia while battling a fractured thumb. At the Kennington Oval, the left-handed opener scored 117 runs off 109 balls with the help of 16 fours. India won the match by 36 runs.

In the ninth over of India’s innings, Dhawan was hit on his thumb by a bouncer from speedster Pat Cummins. The physio gave him painkillers and applied the pain relief spray. Dhawan battled pain throughout his innings and registered a match-winning century.

Unfortunately, scans revealed a fracture on his thumb and his tournament ended after playing just two matches.

Dhawan said this innings is very close to his heart.

Shikhar Dhawan told Hindustan Times, “I have a few favourite innings that are close to my heart, especially the 2019 World Cup. We were playing a match against Australia. I was batting on 25 when I broke my thumb. The ball came at 150 clicks and hit my here (pointing towards his left thumb). I popped painkillers and scored 117 from there.“

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