Shikhar Dhawan, who has been a mainstay for the Indian cricket team for nearly 15 years, announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket in a video posted on Saturday. In his announcement, Dhawan mentioned that he is leaving behind only memories and stepping into a new world. However, his statement has left fans a bit confused about his participation in the IPL.
Dhawan was the captain of the Punjab Kings until IPL 2024. With the upcoming mega auction, franchises are allowed to retain fewer players, and Dhawan’s tenure with Punjab has not been particularly successful. He has struggled both as captain and with his batting performance.
Will Dhawan Play in the IPL?
The confusion surrounding Dhawan’s IPL future stems from his retirement announcement. Dhawan’s video did not specify whether he would continue playing in the IPL. He stated that he is retiring from international and domestic cricket, which has led fans to question whether he will also retire from the IPL.
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In today’s context, when a player, especially an Indian cricketer, announces their retirement, they typically clarify their status for the IPL. For instance, after winning the T20 World Cup, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from T20 internationals but continued playing in the IPL. Dhawan’s announcement is somewhat similar, as he has clearly stated that he is retiring from international and domestic cricket but has not explicitly ruled out the IPL. It is expected that clarity on this matter will emerge soon.