A bond that spanned over a decade- Rohit's moving farewell to long-time teammate Dhawan
The announcement of veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan's retirement from international cricket saw tributes pour in for the swashbuckling left-hander. Among the most heartfelt was from his long-time opening partner and India's white-ball captain Rohit Sharma.
Rohit took to social media to share some fond memories and express his gratitude towards Dhawan. Posting pictures of their playing days together, Rohit called Dhawan “the ultimate jatt”,referencing the opener's hard-working nature and never-say-die attitude on the field.
The duo formed one of the most successful opening pairs in limited-overs cricket for close to a decade, aggregating over 5000 runs together in 117 ODIs. Their 18 century stands are only second to the iconic Indian pair of Ganguly and Tendulkar. It was during the ICC Champions Trophy triumph in 2013 that they first combined, kicking off a fruitful association.
Rohit revealed he was in awe of Dhawan's exploits for India at the U-19 level and was impressed by his flair and talent since watching him as a youngster. Over the years, Dhawan's positive approach at the top provided the perfect platform for Rohit to capitalize. His selfless attitude and ability to absorb pressure made Rohit's role easier.
While the Indian cricket team embarks on a new phase, Rohit ensured Dhawan's pivotal role was duly recognized as the veteran signs off after serving the national side with distinction for over a decade. The bond and on-field chemistry between the two modern-day greats will remain etched in Indian cricket folklore.
