Rishi Dhawan, who is 34 and plays cricket for Himachal Pradesh, decided to retire from the shorter versions of cricket just after the Vijay Hazare Trophy group stage was over. Although he only played for India in four games—three of them were ODIs and one was a T20I in 2016—he still made a major impact in cricket games within India.

For Himachal Pradesh this season, Dhawan has been amazing. He obtained 397 runs in just five matches, which means his batting average is extremely high at 79.40. Not simply that, he also took 11 wickets, and each one cost about 28.45 runs on average. His team is actually performing well in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and they're now second in Group B.

They're working very hard to get to the quarter-finals.

Dhawan shared the news on social media, stating:

“It’s not easy to say goodbye, but I have no regrets as I announce my retirement from Indian limited-overs cricket. Cricket has shaped my life for the past 20 years, bringing me endless joy and unforgettable memories that I will always cherish.”

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Rishi Dhawan (@rishidhawan19)

Dhawan was very grateful to the Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indians, and Kolkata Knight Riders, the IPL teams he played for. He also expressed his graduate to the BCCI and Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association. Reflecting on how much he has learned and grown.

“From starting with nothing to representing India on the biggest stage, it’s been an incredible privilege. Cricket has been my passion and the reason I woke up every day. I want to thank all my coaches, mentors, teammates, and support staff for helping me become the person I am today.”

Helping Himachal Pradesh win their first-ever Vijay Hazare Trophy in the 2021-22 season really stood out in Rishi Dhawan's career. Mr. Dhawan was doing very well, obtaining 458 runs and taking 17 wickets across just eight games. Because of his amazing skills both in hitting and fielding, he was ranked the second-best player of the season in both categories.

This means he's one of the rare players to be in the top five for both obtaining and taking out opponents. So far, this win is still the only domestic trophy Himachal Pradesh has gotten.

Rishi Dhawan had a very big moment in his career when he led Himachal Pradesh to their first Vijay Hazare Trophy win in the 2021-22 season. Mr. Dhawan performed well by scoring 458 runs and getting 17 wickets across just eight games. Because of his amazing performance in both batting and bowling, he ended up being the second-best player of the season.

This made him one of the rare players to be in the top five for both runs and wickets. Himachal Pradesh winning the trophy is their only domestic victory so far.

ALSO READ: India's Power Players: Kohli and Rohit Likely to Participate in England

Rishi Dhawan's Cricket Career Stats Across Formats

Rishi Dhawan has announced his retirement from limited-overs cricket, leaving behind a legacy of remarkable contributions to both the Indian and Himachal Pradesh cricket teams. In the IPL, he was part of the Mumbai Indians squad in 2013 before representing the Punjab Kings from 2014 to 2024. Over the course of 39 IPL matches, he scored 210 runs and took 25 wickets, showcasing his value as a dependable all-rounder.

Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25: Group Stage Concludes, Top 10 Teams Qualify for Knockouts

The group stage of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 concluded on Sunday, January 5, with a dramatic finish that confirmed the top 10 teams for the knockout stages. This year’s tournament saw fierce competition, thrilling matches, and numerous records being shattered as teams battled for supremacy.

Knockout Qualification Format

The top six teams from the group stage directly advanced to the quarter-finals, while the teams ranked seventh to tenth will compete in the pre-quarterfinals. The winners of these pre-quarterfinals will join the top six in the quarter-finals, setting up an exciting series of knockout matches. All knockout matches will be hosted in Vadodara.

ALSO READ:Selfless Leadership: Rohit Sharma Prioritizes Team Over Self, Earns Gambhir's Praise

Qualified Teams and Rankings (1-10)

1. Gujarat – 28 points (Group A topper)

2. Maharashtra – 24 points (+1.75) (Group B topper)

3. Vidarbha – 24 points (+1.55) (Group D topper)

4. Karnataka – 24 points (+1.37) (Group C topper)

5. Baroda – 20 points (Group E topper)

6. Punjab – 24 points (+2.167) (2nd place in Group C)

7. Haryana – 24 points (+0.726) (2nd place in Group A)

8. Rajasthan – 20 points (2nd place in Group B)

9. Tamil Nadu – 18 points (2nd place in Group D)

10. Bengal – 18 points (2nd place in Group E)

Knockout Stage Schedule

Pre-Quarterfinals (January 9, 2025):

• Pre Quarter-final 1: Haryana vs Bengal – Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara – 9:00 AM IST

• Pre Quarter-final 2: Rajasthan vs Tamil Nadu – Motibaug Cricket Ground, Vadodara – 9:00 AM IST

Quarterfinals:

• January 11, 2025:

  • Quarter-final 3: Vidarbha vs Punjab – Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara – 9:00 AM IST

  • Quarter-final 4: Karnataka vs Baroda – Motibaug Cricket Ground, Vadodara – 9:00 AM IST

• January 12, 2025:

  • Quarter-final 1: Gujarat vs Winner of Pre Quarter-final 1 – Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara – 9:00 AM IST

  • Quarter-final 2: Maharashtra vs Winner of Pre Quarter-final 2 – Motibaug Cricket Ground, Vadodara – 9:00 AM IST

Semifinals:

• January 15, 2025: Semi-final 1: Winner of Quarter-final 1 vs Winner of Quarter-final 4 – Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara – 1:30 PM IST

• January 16, 2025: Semi-final 2: Winner of Quarter-final 2 vs Winner of Quarter-final 3 – Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara – 1:30 PM IST

Final:

• January 18, 2025: Final – Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara – 1:30 PM IST

Thrilling End to Group Stage

The final round of group matches delivered edge-of-the-seat excitement, with several games going down to the wire. Teams left no stone unturned to secure their spots, making it a nail-biting conclusion to the group stage. Gujarat, Maharashtra, Vidarbha, Karnataka, and Baroda topped their respective groups to directly qualify for the quarter-finals, while Punjab earned their place as the best-ranked second-placed team.

Haryana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Bengal secured their spots in the pre-quarterfinals after commendable performances throughout the group stage.

The Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25 season is happening now. It is an Indian domestic cricket tournament played in the 50-over format. On 5th January, in Round 7 of Group E, Bengal played against Madhya Pradesh (MP) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Bengal batted first but didn’t start well. Their opener, Abhishek Porel, got out early, scoring just 9 runs. However, his opening partner and team captain, Sudip Gharami, played an excellent innings, scoring 99 runs. The one-down batsman, Sudip Chatterjee, also supported well by adding 47 runs. Later in the innings, Mohammad Shami contributed with a quick 42 runs, which helped Bengal set a total of 269 runs. It was a competitive score for the match.

Read Also:Virat Kohli Reminds Everyone of the Sandpaper Gate Incident at the Sydney Test

In reply, Madhya Pradesh’s batting started poorly. Both openers got out for ducks, leaving the team in deep trouble. It looked like MP was in a difficult situation, but their captain, Rajat Patidar, stepped up and played a heroic innings. Rajat remained not out, scoring an incredible 132 runs. He single-handedly led his team to chase the target. He was supported well by Shubham Shyamsunder Sharma, who scored 99 runs. Shubham missed his century but played a fantastic role in forming a crucial partnership of 185 runs with Rajat. This partnership made sure the team didn’t collapse after the early wickets.

When the chips were down, Rajat Patidar turned the game around! 💪

Ra Pa rose to the challenge against a formidable bowling attack of Bengal in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and scored a masterful century, leading his team to victory. 🙌#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB pic.twitter.com/qo7WJW8XiD

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) January 5, 2025

Madhya Pradesh chased down the target in just 46.2 overs. The main highlight of the match was Rajat Patidar’s brilliant knock. He faced Bengal’s bowling attack confidently, even against an experienced player like Mohammad Shami. Rajat was unstoppable and treated every bowler the same, no matter their reputation.

Rajat Patidar has been performing consistently in domestic cricket. He is currently a key player for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL and was retained by the team for ₹11 crores. Though he hasn’t yet become a regular part of the Indian national team, Rajat is working hard to keep performing in tournaments like the Vijay Hazare Trophy. His goal is to make his way into the Indian team by continuing this form and carrying it forward into the IPL 2025.

Karun Nair, a former Indian Test cricketer, has made history again. Even though his international career was short, playing only six Test matches, he is famous for his amazing knock of 334 not out against England in 2016. With this, he became the second Indian after Virender Sehwag to score a triple century in Test cricket.

Now, at 33 years old, Karun is not playing international cricket but is still showing his talent in India’s domestic cricket. On January 3, as the captain of Vidarbha, he made a new record in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He has shown amazing consistency this season and created a streak by scoring 542 runs without getting out, the most by any player in List A cricket. He broke the previous record of 527 runs by New Zealand’s James Franklin in 2010.

Read Also: Gautam Gambhir Likely to Step Down as India Head Coach Due to Poor Team Performance and Player Concerns

Karun’s streak of not getting out started on December 23. Since then, he has scored four centuries, including three back-to-back in his last three innings. In his latest match against Uttar Pradesh, he scored 112 not out and helped Vidarbha win the game.

Captain Karun Nair in the Vijay Hazare Trophy..

112**(108)
44*(52)
163*(107)
111*(103)
112*(101)#KarunNair#INDvsAUS#INDvsAUSTest#AUSvINDIA #AUSvsIND pic.twitter.com/k0n8SZ7yJO

— 𝗔𝗻𝗸𝗶𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝘆. (@ankit_2200) January 3, 2025

On Friday, Vidarbha finished at 313/2, with Yash Rathod scoring an unbeaten 138 off 140 balls. Nair and Rathod shared a huge 228-run partnership for the second wicket.

Read Also: Virat Kohli Aspires to Be Interim Test Captain for Transition Phase and Desires to Play Till 2027

This win moved Vidarbha to the top of Group D with 20 points from five matches, ahead of second-placed Tamil Nadu (14 points) and Uttar Pradesh (14 points), who are tied for third.

Abhishek Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh Shine with 644 Runs in 3 Matches, Eye India vs England Squad Spot

Abhishek Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh are two rising star cricketers from India who've been performing well in domestic cricket. In just three matches, they conjoined it by scoring a whopping 644 runs together. Their amazing performance is showing everyone they're ready to play. People are now speaking a lot about whether these men will graduate to play for India in the upcoming major series against England, all because they're playing so well consistently.

Impressive Performances in Domestic Cricket

Abhishek Sharma is really proficient at going up to hit first and has been playing amazing lately. Abhishek Sharma's great at building from the ground up a large score, slowly or quickly, speeding things if that's what's needed, which is vitally important for playing cricket around the world. In his latest games, he's been hitting the ball smoothly, showing he's sharp and informed about the game, and dealing with tough moments like a pro.

Prabhsimran Singh, the wicketkeeper-batter, has been amazing because he can change his approach to fit different conditions and fight off all kinds of bowlers. Singh's been extremely steady, always achieving up large scores and keeping his team in the lead. With how good he's been with the bat, he's proving he should join the Indian team.

ALSO READ:Former Indian top-order batter lashes out captain Rohit Sharma's Sydney Test decision

Abhishek Sharma & Prabhsimran Singh: Opening for Punjab in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25

Building a Case for the India vs England Series

Abhishek and Prabhsimran have really stepped up and proved they have the skills needed when it gets very challenging, which is vitally important for facing a tough team such as England. With the India vs England series just around the corner and expected to be really close and tough, scouts are definitely going to pick players who are on top of their approach.

Abhishek Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh have impressed with outstanding performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25. Their consistent form has sparked discussions about their potential inclusion in India’s squad for the upcoming series against England.Abhishek Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh have impressed with outstanding performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25. Their consistent form has sparked discussions about their potential inclusion in India’s squad for the upcoming series against England.India is trying to create a good all-around team, so players who are good in all types of the game are really wanted. Because Abhishek can strike the ball with great force in white-ball cricket and he's also played a lot of domestic traditional games, he makes the batting group stronger. At the same time, having Prabhsimran, who can use the bat to hit the ball and also keep wickets, lets the team try different and new options more and have more game plans.

Abhishek Sharma & Prabhsimran Singh: Stats in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25

Ayush Mhatre Breaks Yashasvi Jaiswal's Record with Stunning Knock in Vijay Hazare Trophy

In an impressive display of talent, 17-year-old Ayush Mhatre from Mumbai made headlines with a record-breaking performance against Nagaland during the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The match, played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, saw Mhatre become the youngest player in the world to score over 150 runs in List A cricket, breaking the previous record held by fellow Mumbaikar Yashasvi Jaiswal. Jaiswal had set the record at 17 years and 291 days back in 2019.

Mhatre’s innings was a masterpiece. Opening the batting, he displayed remarkable poise and skill, combining precise strokes with calculated risks. His magnificent knock of 181 runs off 117 balls included 15 boundaries and 11 sixes, leaving the audience in awe of his natural flair and aggressive approach to the game.

The record held by Jaiswal had stood for several years, illustrating the rarity of such extraordinary talent at a young age. Mhatre’s achievement not only surpassed this record but also reinforced Mumbai’s reputation for producing exceptional batting talent. This milestone places Mhatre in an exclusive group of young players who have excelled in List A cricket, alongside notable names such as Robin Uthappa, who achieved a similar feat at 19 years and 63 days, and England's Tom Prest, who made his mark at 19 years and 136 days.

#VIjayHazareTrophy #AyushMhatre #YashasviJaiswal

Ayush Mhatre breaks Yashasvi Jaiswal's List A World Record with stunning knock

READ: https://t.co/PrfpjkCD3k pic.twitter.com/l2rX52aUYg

— TOI Sports (@toisports) December 31, 2024

Mhatre's performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy serves as more than just a record; it signifies a promising future for Indian cricket. Prior to this tournament, Mhatre had been part of the Indian squad for the U-19 Asia Cup, where he scored 176 runs over five innings, averaging 44. Despite playing a crucial role in leading India to the final, the team ultimately fell short in a thrilling match against Bangladesh.

ALSO READ:Gavaskar Criticizes Rohit Sharma's Decision to Exclude Shubman Gill for MCG Test

Mhatre’s historic knock has captured the imagination of cricket fans and experts alike, and it’s clear that he is a talent to watch closely in the coming years. His remarkable achievement at such a young age is a testament to his skill, temperament, and determination, making him one of the most exciting young prospects in Indian cricket today.

In a record-breaking run feast at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Mumbai mount a gigantic first-innings score of 403 for the loss of seven wickets against Nagaland in the Group C fixture of the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy. Ayush Mhatre and Angkrish Raghuvanshi set the tone early on with a scintillating 156-run opening stand and Shardul Thakur subsequently applied the finishing touches by slamming 73 (28) to help Mumbai cross the 400-run barrier.

It was a day to forget for the Nagaland bowlers. They received some heavy pounding from the Mumbai batters, mostly notably from Mhatre, Raghuvanshi, and later from the Mumbai skipper Thakur who smoked them to all parts. Nagaho Chishi turned out to be the most expensive bowler finishing with expensive figures of 2-100 in his 10 whereas Imliwati Lemtur was the only bowler who bowled with some degree of control finishing with formidable figures of 1-49 while going at 4.9 RPO.

Shardul's late flourish with the bat powers Mumbai to a massive score

With the stage perfectly set for an insane assault towards the back end of the innings, the former Indian all-rounder wasted no time in getting into the act. Walking in to bat at number six, Shardul raced to his half-century in a matter of only 24 balls. He remained unbeaten till the end and improved his individual score to 73. In his 28-ball innings,  Shardul hammered two fours and eight sixes and scored at a breathtaking strike rate of 260.71.

Shardul predominately scored on both sides of the wicket however, his wagon wheel suggests that the hard-hitting all-rounder favored the off-side more than the on-side. Nearly 52% of his runs came on the off side. He primarily targeted the long off boundary and the mid-wicket boundary and smashed as many as six boundaries in these regions. Third man and fine leg have been his least productive scoring regions in his blazing 28-ball innings.

See also: Abhishek Sharma slams 60-ball century with centurion Prabhsimran Singh to set record partnership

Shardul's Wagon Wheel

At the time of writing, Nagaland had already commenced their run chase and it was Shardul Thakur again who sprung back into action with the ball this time reducing Nagaland to 13-2 by the end of the fifth over.

In the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25, Punjab openers Abhishek Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh slammed centuries against Saurashtra, where they set up the joint second-highest opening partnership in the tournament history.

The IPL 2025 retained players, SunRisers Hyderabad’s Abhishek Sharma and Punjab Kings’ uncapped Prabhsimran Singh, blasted against the Saurashtra bowlers. While the Punjab skipper Sharma scored a 60-ball century, Prabhsimran scored an 81-ball century.

After Saurashtra captain Jaydev Unadkat chose to field first, Punjab recorded their first 400+ total in List A history. At the end of the 50 overs, Punjab scored 424/5.

See Also: A look back into India's glorious run in 2024

Abhishek Sharma slammed 86-ball 150 runs; and recorded Punjab's highest score

The 24-year-old opener and skipper Abhishek Sharma completed his half-century in 24 balls and then completed his fourth List A century in 60 balls. Then, he completed his 150 runs in 86 balls. While his previous List A highest score was 169 not out, which was also the List A record by a Punjab batter, Sharma set a new record in Punjab’s List A cricket history after scoring 170 runs off 96 balls with 22 fours and eight sixes. 

Prabhsimran Singh scored 81-ball century

Meanwhile, Sharma’s opening partner Prabhsimran Singh took 52 balls to complete his 50 runs, but then the 24-year-old’s powerful batting helped him to complete his fourth List A century in 81 balls. He was out after scoring 125 runs off 95 balls with 11 fours and eight sixes. 

298-run opening partnership

Sharma and Singh set up a 298-run partnership for the first wicket. It was the highest List A partnership for Punjab for any wicket, as their previous record was a 258-run partnership for the second wicket between Uday Kaul and Dinesh Mongia (against Jammu & Kashmir in 2006).

On the other hand, the 298-run opening partnership was the joint second-highest partnership in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. In 2022, the Bengal openers Sudip Kumar Gharami and captain Abhimanyu Easwaran set up a 298-run first-wicket partnership against Services. Both of those partnerships are in joint third place in the list of highest partnerships for any wicket in the tournament history. 

The record partnership for any wicket in the Vijay Hazare Trophy is the List A record partnership of 416 runs for the first wicket between the Tamil Nadu openers Sai Sudharsan and Narayan Jagadeesan against Arunachal Pradesh in 2022.

Coming back to the Punjab vs Saurashtra match, wicketkeeper-batter Anmol Malhotra and Sanvir Singh later built an 89-run partnership for the unbroken sixth wicket to guide the total 400+ runs.  While Malhotra scored 48 not out off 45 balls (six fours), Sanvir scored 40 not out off 29 balls (four fours and one six). 

Arshdeep Singh's Sensational Spell Shatters Mumbai's Batting in Vijay Hazare Trophy Clash

In a breathtaking display of skill and control, Punjab’s left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh decimated Mumbai’s celebrated batting lineup during their Vijay Hazare Trophy encounter. Arshdeep's fiery spell, which saw him claim five wickets out of Mumbai's top six batters, including Indian stars Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shivam Dube, turned the game decisively in Punjab’s favor.

- Wicket of Shreyas.
- Wicket of Surya.
- Wicket of Dube.
- Wicket of Raghuvanshi.
- Wicket of Ayush Mhatre.

ARSHDEEP SINGH HAS TAKEN FIVE-WICKET HAUL IN JUST 41 BALLS AGAINST MUMBAI IN VIJAY HAZARE TROPHY 👏 pic.twitter.com/qmv9ziEmKP

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 28, 2024

A Slow Start to the Tournament

Arshdeep Singh, who's 25, had something to prove when he came into the match. People were doubting his skills because his first few games weren't great. Singh only got 1/67 against Nagaland and 2/48 playing against Karnataka, which were not very good. But, in a vitally important moment, this fast bowler stepped up and showed everyone how good he is by bowling an unforgettable spell.

Early Strikes Set the Tone

Right from the beginning, Arshdeep demonstrated his excellent skills and got Angkrish Raghuvanshi out in the very first over; this was very difficult for Mumbai since everyone knows their batters are normally faultless. With the early loss of Angkrish, the team struggled to keep currently facing Arshdeep's spot-on bowling and the manner he made the ball dance around then, he got Ayush Mhatre, just when it looked as though Ayush was getting comfortable on the pitch. By the time Arshdeep finished his first group of overs, the top hitters from Mumbai were clearly changed. Mumbai had to bat first because Mumbpunjab chose to field, putting Mumbai's famous batting lineup under early pressure.

ALSO READ:Rishabh Pant’s Bizarre Dismissal at MCG Sparks Sunil Gavaskar’s Furious Reaction-‘Stupid, Stupid, Stupid’

Dismissing Mumbai's Giants

Arshdeep really showed what he is like against Mumbai's top players, Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav ,Shivam Dube. First, he managed to get Suryakumar out, who's known as one of the best limited-overs players for India, in just five balls with an amazing delivery then, not long after, he delivered a superb ball that took out Iyer, right after he scored 17 runs in 17 balls; the manner he bowled showed he's got major skill and he was very serious about what he was doing.

Punjab batter Anmolpreet Singh dazzled with the bat during a Group C fixture of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy (2024-25) against Arunachal Pradesh by smashing the third-fastest List-A ton. The swashbuckling batter achieved this remarkable feat in the space of just 35 balls. He now sits just below Jake Fraser-McGurk and AB de Villiers who took 29 & 31 deliveries respectively to smash a rapid-fire century.  

See also: Panic for India as Rohit Sharma copes a blow while batting in the nets

Anmolpreet's blitzkrieg with the bat leaves Arunachal Pradesh gasping for breath

Following the early departure of Abhishek Sharma, Anmolpreet walked out to bat at number three with his side needing another 151 runs to win in the remaining 48.3 overs. Realizing that there was barely any pressure on him, the Punjab batter straightaway got into his work and launched a scathing attack on the Arunachal Pradesh bowlers. Their bowlers were left clueless as Anmolpreet unleashed his fireworks which lit up the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

It took him only 35 balls to get to his blazing century which featured 12 fours & nine sixes. Thanks to Anmolpreet's explosive batting performance, Punjab successfully chased down Arunachal Pradesh's paltry target of 165 runs in merely 12.5 overs, securing a massive nine-wicket victory. Anmolpreet remained unbeaten on 115 runs off 45 balls while his opening partner, Prabhsimran Singh, played a rather subdued role and remained not out as well, contributing a more measured 35 runs from 25 balls.

Previous fastest-century records

South African great Ab de Villiers previously held the record for slamming the fastest List-A century. He slammed a 44-ball 144 against West Indies in Johannesburg in January 2015 to become the fastest List-A centurion. In the process, he also managed to become the fastest ODI centurion of all time surpassing Corey Anderson's 100 (36) against West Indies in 2014. 

That record was preserved for several years before it was broken by Australia's Fraser-McGurk who scored a 29-ball hundred for South Australia against Tasmania in a losing effort in the 2023 Marsh Cup in October.