'Age Factor Is Also There...': Senior India Opener Says His Test Career Is Over

Shikhar Dhawan explained why he stayed away from playing Ranji Trophy and that he knows he won't play Test cricket for the national team in future again. 

Shikhar Dhawan explained why he stayed away from playing Ranji Trophy and that he knows he won't play Test cricket for the national team in future again. 

Source : PTI

Team India's senior opener Shikhar Dhawan made a remarkable Test debut in 2013 against Australia. His debut in the longest format was a memorable one as he scored 187 runs off 174 balls Vs Australia. Five years later, in 2018, he played his final Test match for the national team and has been out of the Test team since then. After this, Dhawan completely focused on white-ball formats (ODIs & T20Is) and hasn't played Ranji fixtures since 2019.

In an exclusive interaction with Lallantop recently, Shikhar Dhawan explained why he stayed away from playing Ranji Trophy and that he knows he won't play Test cricket for the national team in future again. 

"I don't think about it (on being criticised for not playing Ranji Trophy). I know that my Test career...I am not in the Test team for the last 2-3 years. The age factor is also there in every cricketer's life - a sportsman's life is different. There will be more investment in youngsters, not me....when I know that I won't play that thing, then what will I do (by playing red-ball cricket). I will give rest to my body, and stay afresh," Dhawan told Lallantop.

"I played domestic one-dayers and T20 matches. When I know that I won't play Test cricket, then why should I go (to play Ranji trophy)."

Shikhar Dhawan played Test cricket for team India from 2013 to 2018 during which he scored a total of 2315 runs in 34 Tests. The stylish left-handed opener was a regular part of India's ODI squad from 2013 to 2022. Just a year before ODI World Cup 2023 in India, Dhawan was dropped from India's ODI squad for New Zealand tour of India. The senior opener will be seen leading Punjab Kings in IPL 2023. If he performs well, he might somehow find a way back into the team for the mega ICC event.