"Felt happy, I didn't cry": Shikhar Dhawan reflects on retirement; says open for commentary role in future

New Delhi [India], February 12 : Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan didn't shed a tear when he decided it was his time to retire, instead he "felt happy" as he embarked on a new phase in his life that could include a chapter where he features in the commentary box.
On the morning of August 24, Shikhar out of the blue, dropped a post on his social media to announce his retirement from international and domestic cricket.
It wasn't the usual retirement for Dhawan, which a player expects in an ideal scenario, with fans swarming the stadium, and placards waving in the air with special messages. The name echoed in the stadium and at the end taking a lap around the ground, thanking the fans for their unwavering support.
The social media erupted with farewell messages for the former southpaw from fans and former cricketers, dedicating an ode to his services to the nation.
Dhawan, who grasped all the love and support that poured across the globe, didn't get emotional, but in fact, he felt happy with the decision.
"I felt happy. Yeah, I felt happy. I didn't... I didn't cry. I was in Shukrana. When I come to work, my intensity level goes up. And my focus level goes up. And... Aggression comes from within. But I make sure outside that, I try to stay in Zen mode," Dhawan said in an exclusive interview with ANI.
Since bringing down the curtain on his career, "Gabbar" has shifted his focus towards business and casually returning to the sport he loves by featuring across various franchise leagues.
There are other spectrums of the game that Dhawan is keen to explore, and one of them involves sitting in the commentary box and narrating the tale that continues to unravel on the field in his words.
"I can go for commentary as well, you never know. If it suits me, I will be open to it," Dhawan added.
In his illustrious career, runs effortlessly came off Dhawan's bat. He represented India across all formats, but ODI was his forte. In 167 appearances, the southpaw produced swashbuckling performances and racked up 6,793 runs at an average of 44.1, including 17 centuries and 39 fifties.
In the longest format of cricket, where he stitched up memorable opening stands, Dhawan garnered 2,315 runs in 34 matches at an average of 40.6. His Test career was laced with seven tons and five half-centuries. In the T20I format, Dhawan made 68 appearances and scored 1,759 runs at an average of 27.9, including 11 fifties.