Shikhar Dhawan has been around the Indian T20 League since its inception in 2008. A force at the top of the batting order in T20s, his aggression and quick scoring have often been a huge plus for franchises that have had him.
In 159 career Indian T20 League games, Dhawan has clocked in 4579 runs at an average of 33.42, with 37 half-centuries. We look back at some of his most memorable Indian T20 League knocks.
82* (57) vs Mumbai - Indian T20 League 2016
With able support from David Warner, Shikhar Dhawan got Hyderabad off to a flier in this 2016 fixture against Mumbai, whacking off an unbeaten 82 off 57 balls for Hyderabad as they set up a competitive first-innings total of 177. The Hyderabad opener played through the innings and blasted 10 fours and a six in this crucial knock.
Playing second-fiddle to Warner initially, Dhawan took charge once he departed, to give Hyderabad a credible total. Mumbai were cleaned up for 92 in 16.3 overs in the chase as Dhawan's enterprising and calculated knock gave the Hyderabad franchise a massive win.
97(63) vs Kolkata - Indian T20 League 2019
Dhawan had not always been at his best for Hyderabad, and a move home to Delhi seemed to have brought out his best. Against Kolkata in the 2019 season, Dhawan hammered out a spectacular 97 in 63 balls to lead his side to a comprehensive seven-wicket win.
Chasing 179 for a win, Dhawan was on the offensive from the word go as he dug into Prasidh Krishna and Andre Russell in the powerplay overs. Even as Prithvi Shaw and Shreyas Iyer were dismissed, Dhawan remained unperturbed and hit his highest Indian T20 League score of 97, bludgeoning 11 fours and two sixes in his innings.
92* (50) vs Delhi - Indian T20 League 2018
Chasing 188 for a win after a supreme hundred from Rishabh Pant, Hyderabad lost Alex Hales early, and Shikhar Dhawan and Kane Williamson forged a brilliant partnership to rescue Hyderabad's innings. The duo strung together a stand of 176, the highest ever for Hyderabad, and led them to their highest run-chase in the league ever.
Dhawan was at the forefront of Hyderabad's charge, blasting nine fours and four sixes in his 50-ball knock that yielded 92 unbeaten runs. Skipper Williamson contributed 83 off his own in 52 balls but Dhawan was the aggressor-in-chief for the Hyderabad franchise as they knocked off the target with seven balls to spare.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Manjunath Kiran
