EP-260 | Parenthood, Retirement, Bond with Virat & Rohit, Team Politics | Shikhar Dhawan
Description
Shikhar Dhawan, fondly known as 'Gabbar' by his fans, has had a remarkable cricket career. He won the Golden Bat twice at the ICC Champions Trophy, and holds the record for the fastest Test century by a debutant, In August 2024, he announced his retirement from international and domestic cricket.
In this podcast with Smita Prakash, Dhawan talks about the pressure social media creates in team selection and shares his views on the controversial Yo-Yo test. He also recalls his Test debut alongside the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.
He opens up about his mindset during the Champions Trophy, the challenges of sledging, friendships off the field, and why India can't play in Pakistan.
Dhawan also talks about his bond with his son, how spirituality has shaped his life, and his journey from being dropped in 2022 to his thoughts on the future of Indian cricket.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
01:21 - The Pressure of Social Media
05:37 - Champions Trophy 2025
08:11 - Dressing room conversations
11:07 - Yo-Yo test
18:11 - Story behind selection in Indian Team
19:33 - Playing with Sachin in his debut Test
21:14 - Sachin Tendulkar's retirement
22:41 - Timing, fate, and hard work
26:34 - Breaking Gundappa Viswanath's record
29:57 - A captain’s advice for openers
33:35 - Understanding the opponent’s abilities
35:22 - Champions Trophy records & Mindset
40:51 - Bid to upskill cricket coaches in India
47:35 - Sledging in cricket
49:33 - Should Team India travel to Pakistan?
50:43 - BCCI's new rulebook for players
52:06 - IPL success story
54:16 - Dhawan as captain
58:27 - Getting dropped from Team India
01:00:43 - Having a godfather in cricket
01:04:36 - Relationship with his son
01:10:38 - Spirituality in life
01:13:27 - Retirement decision
01:16:33 - Advice to young players
01:17:56 - Importance of physical fitness
01:24:49 - Legends 90 League
01:27:01 - Rapid Fire Segment
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