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