Indian cricket legend Shikhar Dhawan made his debut visit to Nepal on Friday, greeted by an outpouring of admiration from fans as he landed at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Dhawan, nicknamed “Gabbar,” was seen donning Nepal’s traditional Dhaka Topi as he exited the VIP terminal, marking the beginning of his journey in the inaugural Nepal Premier League (NPL).
Dhawan, who will represent the Karnali Yaks in the tournament, expressed excitement about his participation. Speaking to the media, he said, “This is my first ever visit to Nepal, and I am happy to play in the Nepal Premier League from Karnali Yaks. I am looking forward to playing alongside local players and Nepali national team players to put on a good show. I also hope to visit some of Nepal’s iconic landmarks like the Pashupatinath Temple and Mount Everest.”
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The 38-year-old recently retired from international and domestic cricket, announcing his decision in August through an emotional Instagram post. Dhawan concluded his career after being released by Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Punjab Kings (PBKS) ahead of the 2025 mega-auction. Despite playing only five matches in IPL 2024 due to injury, Dhawan scored 152 runs at a strike rate of 125.62.
Joining the NPL is Dhawan’s latest venture after an illustrious cricketing career that spanned over a decade. He hopes to leverage his experience to inspire young talent in Nepal while contributing to the growth of cricket in the region.
Known for his swashbuckling style, Dhawan made significant contributions to Indian cricket across all formats, particularly excelling in One-Day Internationals (ODIs). In 167 ODIs, Dhawan scored an impressive 6,793 runs at an average of 44.1, including 17 centuries and 39 half-centuries.
In Test cricket, Dhawan was equally formidable, amassing 2,315 runs in 34 matches at an average of 40.6, with seven centuries and five fifties. His partnerships with Murali Vijay in the longest format remain memorable highlights of his career.
In T20Is, Dhawan represented India in 68 matches, scoring 1,759 runs at an average of 27.9, including 11 half-centuries. His domestic career was equally prolific, with 8,499 runs in 122 First-Class matches at an average of 44.26, including 25 centuries and 29 fifties.
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