Shikhar Dhawan Unveils His Life Story in New Memoir

A Glimpse into Shikhar Dhawan's Journey

Former Indian opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan has released a memoir that delves deep into his life, exploring his relationships, friendships, and the various controversies he has faced both on and off the cricket field.

Dhawan expressed, “Cricket has given me a sense of purpose, but it’s the journey filled with triumphs, setbacks, and quiet moments that has truly molded me into the person I am today. This book is my heartfelt account of that journey—raw, honest, and unfiltered,” referring to his memoir titled “The One: Cricket, My Life and More.”

According to HarperCollins India, the book is written with openness and sincerity, providing readers with an intimate look at Dhawan’s thoughts and the vulnerabilities that have contributed to his success as a cricketer and as a person.

Sachin Sharma, a publisher at HarperCollins India, remarked, “Shikhar Dhawan has experienced an extraordinary life both in cricket and beyond. In this compelling memoir, he candidly discusses his life, cricket, relationships, and the challenges he faced, emerging stronger each time.” Growing up in the competitive cricket environment of Delhi, Dhawan initially started as a wicketkeeper before becoming an opening batsman. He has played 34 Tests for India, accumulating 2315 runs, along with 167 ODIs (6793 runs) and 68 T20 matches (1759 runs).

Reflecting on his early career, Dhawan noted, “When I was trying to break into the Indian team, social media was just beginning, and cricketers faced much less scrutiny. However, print and broadcast media were thriving.”

He elaborated, “Discussions around team selections and individual performances were extensive and had garnered a significant audience. Unlike today, where social media can quickly change a cricketer's reputation, narratives took much longer to shift back then.”

Dhawan recounted his entry into the Indian dressing room during Australia’s tour of India in October 2010, saying, “That was when I finally received my long-awaited call to join the big leagues.”

He humorously recalled his first impression of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, stating, “I thought he looked like a Bollywood star with his long hair and charming smile.” Dhawan shared a light-hearted moment when he told Dhoni, “I want to play for India and make you a Bollywood hero!” which made Dhoni laugh.

Although he was selected for three ODIs, the first and third matches were rained out. Dhawan described the nervous energy he felt before his debut, saying, “I couldn’t sleep the night before the first match, but when I woke up, it was pouring rain, and all my hopes were dashed.”

To calm his nerves before the second ODI in Vizag, he took a sleeping pill, worried that insomnia would affect his performance. India won the toss and chose to bat first, marking the beginning of Dhawan’s debut.

As the Australians batted first and scored 289 runs, Dhawan opened the innings with Murali Vijay. Unfortunately, he was bowled for a duck on the second ball by Clint McKay. “I walked off the field with a smile, but inside, I was frustrated. I had envisioned scoring runs for India, and it was hard to accept the reality of my performance,” he reflected.