Kathmandu: Karnali Yaks, the Nepal Premier League (NPL) franchise team, has bid farewell to former Indian cricket opener Shikhar Dhawan, who returned to India after announcing his inability to continue playing due to knee issues. The team’s manager, coach, and players gathered at the Hilton Hotel on Monday to say their goodbyes.
Dhawan had joined Karnali Yaks with the agreement to play at least four matches in the NPL. After playing his fourth match on Sunday, the 38-year-old cricketer revealed that his knee injury, which has kept him from fully recovering since his retirement from international and domestic cricket after the IPL, would prevent him from continuing.
Dhawan arrived in Nepal on November 29, where he participated in the NPL inauguration and visited the Pashupatinath Temple. Over the course of his short stint, Dhawan made a significant contribution, scoring a half-century in his second match, 74 not out against Kathmandu Gurkhas. He also scored 45 runs against Chitwan Rhinos and 14 against Janakpur Bolts, totaling 136 runs in four matches.
In his final match against Biratnagar, Dhawan was dismissed for just 5 runs, bowled by Pratish Gharti Chhetri, who became the first Nepali bowler to dismiss Dhawan. Dhawan’s time with the Karnali Yaks was brief, but impactful, as he played a key role in promoting the NPL in Nepal.