Remembering Shikhar Dhawan: A Look at His Top 5 T20 Performances

Shikhar Dhawan, fondly known as “Gabbar,” has been a mainstay in Indian cricket for over a decade, known for his aggressive batting and trademark celebrations. While his legacy is often associated with his remarkable performances in ODIs, Dhawan has also made significant contributions in T20 internationals. As we reminisce about his career, let’s take a closer look at his top five T20I performances that have left an indelible mark on Indian cricket.

92 against West Indies 

The pinnacle of Shikhar Dhawan’s T20I career came in the third T20I against the West Indies in Chennai. Chasing a challenging target of 182, Dhawan played a match-winning knock of 92 off 62 balls. His innings were a masterclass in controlled aggression, featuring 10 boundaries and two sixes. Dhawan anchored the chase beautifully, ensuring that India stayed on course despite losing wickets at the other end. The match came down to the last delivery, with Dhawan’s calm and composed batting guiding India to a thrilling six-wicket victory.

90 against Sri Lanka

During the 2018 Nidahas Trophy, Shikhar Dhawan delivered one of his most memorable T20I performances against Sri Lanka in Colombo. Batting first, Dhawan played an explosive innings of 90 off just 49 balls, with six fours and six sixes, maintaining a strike rate of 183.67. His aggressive approach put the Sri Lankan bowlers under immense pressure, allowing India to set a competitive target of 174. Although Sri Lanka managed to chase down the total, Dhawan’s innings was the highlight of the match.

80 against New Zealand

Shikhar Dhawan’s knock against New Zealand in Delhi was a masterclass in anchoring the innings while still maintaining a high strike rate. Opening the batting, Dhawan scored 80 off 52 balls, laced with 10 fours and two sixes, at a strike rate of 153.84. His partnership with Rohit Sharma was instrumental in propelling India to a strong total of 202/3. New Zealand, despite being a formidable opponent, could only manage 149/8 in response, giving India a 53-run victory. 

76 against Australia 

Playing against Australia in Brisbane is always a challenging task, but Dhawan seemed to relish the opportunity in the first T20I of the series in November 2018. Chasing a target of 174, Dhawan led India’s response with a scintillating 76 off 42 balls. His innings featured 10 boundaries and two towering sixes, striking at an impressive rate of 180.95. Despite his efforts, India fell short by just four runs in a rain-affected match decided by the DLS method. 

74 against Ireland 

In the summer of 2018, India toured Ireland for a brief T20I series, and in the first match in Dublin, Shikhar Dhawan played a crucial innings that set the tone for the series. Opening the batting, Dhawan unleashed an aggressive 74 off just 45 balls, studded with five fours and five sixes. His knock, at a blistering strike rate of 164.44, laid the foundation for India to post a daunting total of 208/5. The Irish bowlers struggled to contain Dhawan as he took them apart with his calculated aggression. India’s bowlers then did their part, restricting Ireland to 132/9, and securing a comprehensive 76-run victory.

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