Shikhar Dhawan, the 39-year-old Indian opener, retired in 2024 after a decorated career spanning Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, accumulating over 10,000 international runs and leaving a lasting legacy in the IPL with 6,768 runs.
During his celebrated journey in cricket, Dhawan also took on leadership roles for the Indian team in the limited-overs formats. The Delhi-born opener featured in 34 Test matches, 167 One-Day Internationals, and 68 Twenty20 Internationals, amassing a total of 10,867 runs in international cricket. He was part of the Indian squad that secured victory in the Champions Trophy back in 2013, where he was honoured as the Player of the Tournament after finishing as the top run-scorer by a significant margin. His batting excellence continued in the ODI World Cup held in 2015 and the Champions Trophy in 2017, where he led the run-scoring charts for India in both events. Dhawan also boasts an impressive record in the Indian Premier League, having compiled 6,768 runs across 221 innings at an average of 35.07 and a strike rate of 127.13. On August 24, 2024, he announced his retirement from all forms of international and domestic cricket, though he remains active in Legends League competitions globally. Across his IPL career, Dhawan represented five franchises and secured highly profitable contracts in the lucrative league. He holds multiple IPL records, including being the first batter to score back-to-back centuries. Dhawan stands third among the tournament’s all-time leading run-getters, trailing only Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Additionally, he has recorded 53 scores of fifty or more, placing him ahead of all but Kohli and David Warner in this category. In his final IPL season, he earned an INR 8.25 crore deal with Punjab Kings. His last appearance for India came in December 2022. He was included in India’s central contract list for the final time during the 2021–22 season, having been downgraded from Grade A to Grade C, which came with a reduced INR 1 crore contract. Prior to 2018, however, he was earning INR 7 crore annually from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Dhawan has collaborated with several well-known brands spanning diverse industries. His endorsement portfolio includes QUE Eyewear, 1xBat Sporting Lines, MotoGP India, and TagZ Foods. According to reports, the former Punjab Kings skipper earns between INR 10 to 12 crore each year from brand endorsements, significantly enhancing his overall net worth. Known for his opulent lifestyle, Dhawan possesses an enviable fleet of vehicles, which includes a Range Rover Autobiography, a Mercedes-Benz GLS, a BMW M8, a Range Rover Velar, and an Audi A6. He owns multiple high-end properties in Delhi and Mumbai. He has founded ventures such as Yashaa Global Capital, Da One Sports, and the Shikhar Dhawan Foundation. The 39-year-old has also invested in businesses including UpStox and TagZ Foods. Regarding real estate, Dhawan made a notable purchase by acquiring a luxury apartment in Gurugram for an estimated INR 69 crore, which ranks among the most expensive property deals by an Indian sportsperson.