Bought For Rs 5.2 Crore After Earning Rs 12.5 Crore, Shikhar Dhawan Recalls IPL Heartbreak

Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan recently opened up about the emotional turmoil he endured during the IPL 2018 season while representing Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Widely regarded as one of the most successful batters in both IPL and international cricket, Dhawan produced numerous match-winning performances throughout his illustrious career. Having made his IPL debut in the tournament's inaugural season in 2008, Dhawan went on to play 222 matches before announcing his retirement in 2024. During his career, the left-handed batter represented multiple franchises and finished with 6,768 runs to his name.

In an interview with Indian Express Hindi, Dhawan revealed that he was deeply disappointed when SRH bought him back for Rs 5.2 crore at the IPL 2018 mega auction. Prior to entering the auction pool, he had earned Rs 12.5 crore with the franchise during the 2017 season.

When Dhawan's name came up early in the 2018 mega auction, SRH exercised their Right to Match (RTM) card to bring him back at a significantly lower price. The move left the Delhi-born batter heartbroken, as he felt his performances and value warranted a much higher bid.

"I was at the peak of my career at that time, and I felt I deserved at least Rs 10-12 crore. I was regularly playing for India and delivering match-winning performances. However, my name came up first in the auction, and I was sold for just Rs 5.2 crore. It took me some time to come to terms with that figure," Dhawan said.

"SRH's then head coach, VVS Laxman, came to me and asked if something was bothering me. I told him I wasn't happy with what had happened, and we had a long conversation about it. Later, I played that season for SRH, and we reached the final. I scored more than 500 runs and was probably the team's highest run-scorer," he added.

Dhawan also admitted that, if given a chance, there are certain actions he would like to change. However, he stressed that he does not regret the decisions he made during his career.

"I don't regret it, though. Today, I would handle the situation differently because my understanding has grown, but I don't regret my past decisions," he said.  Dhawan's last appearance in the IPL came in 2024 where he captained Punjab Kings. In that season, he scored 152 runs in five matches.

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