{"id":3544,"date":"2025-07-14T04:24:21","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T04:24:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=3544"},"modified":"2025-07-14T04:24:21","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T04:24:21","slug":"the-one-cricket-my-life-and-more-by-shikhar-dhawan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=3544","title":{"rendered":"The One \u2013 Cricket, My Life and More by Shikhar Dhawan"},"content":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s a reason Shikhar Dhawan has long stood out among Indian cricketers. It\u2019s not just the swashbuckling strokeplay or the signature \u2018thigh-five\u2019 celebration\u2014it\u2019s his unabashed flamboyance, his self-deprecating wit, and a layered personality that walks the line between the street-smart Delhi lad and the deeply introspective seeker. In The One \u2013 Cricket, My Life and More<\/em>, Shikhar Dhawan offers a candid, charming, and at times chaotic look at his personal and professional journey.<\/p>\n

This is not your typical sports memoir obsessed with records and rivalries. Instead, Dhawan gives readers an intimate peek into the making of \u2018Gabbar\u2019, the boy from Vikaspuri who carved his place in the Indian team\u2014not by smooth ascension but through heartbreaks, humility, and hustle.<\/p>\n

A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Menace<\/h2>\n

Dhawan\u2019s memoir kicks off not with cricket but with mischief\u2014a deliberate choice that mirrors his personality. From blowing up mailboxes post-Diwali to climbing out of padlocked apartments using makeshift sari ropes, his early escapades are told with such theatrical glee that one can\u2019t help but chuckle and grimace at the same time.<\/p>\n

These anecdotes aren\u2019t mere comic relief\u2014they form the book\u2019s backbone. Dhawan is building a theme: resilience born not from structure, but from chaos. His childhood chaos isn\u2019t romanticized, but it\u2019s treated with affection and self-awareness. There\u2019s a boyish wonder in how he recalls the trials of being a lovable rascal who gradually discovered a passion that would tame him\u2014cricket.<\/p>\n

The Cricketing Odyssey: From Rejection to Redemption<\/h2>\n

Dhawan\u2019s cricketing career is laid out chronologically, but never dryly. His tone remains conversational, even when recounting formative setbacks\u2014being dropped from the India U-16 squad, being overlooked for two years in India A, or being told to become a \u2018murga\u2019 for watching Titanic<\/em>.<\/p>\n

What stands out is the sincerity with which Dhawan revisits these humiliations. His honesty becomes his greatest strength as a narrator. He admits to crying in the back of a car after a rejection. He recalls the sting of being slapped by his coach Tarak Sinha after scoring a 70 when he could\u2019ve scored a century. But most importantly, he treats each moment as a lesson, not a lament.<\/p>\n

As readers, we\u2019re not merely watching a sportsman rise through the ranks\u2014we\u2019re watching a young man evolve emotionally, learning to cope with competition, injustice, public scrutiny, and his own fluctuating sense of worth.<\/p>\n

On the Big Stage: The Blue Jersey and the Burden of Fame<\/h2>\n

When Shikhar Dhawan finally breaks into the national team, The One<\/em> shifts gears\u2014offering readers ringside seats to some of Indian cricket\u2019s most iconic moments. His debut Test hundred against Australia, his golden run in the 2013 Champions Trophy, and his bromance with Rohit Sharma are covered with flair and fondness.<\/p>\n

But even here, Dhawan doesn\u2019t shy away from vulnerability. He addresses form slumps, the peculiar pain of being a \u201ctwelfth man\u201d despite strong performances, and the media\u2019s love-hate relationship with his flamboyance. One of the most telling passages involves his struggle to accept the end of his international career. He doesn\u2019t mask his disappointment or rationalize it\u2014it stings, and he lets it sting.<\/p>\n

That openness, rarely seen in sports memoirs, is where The One by Shikhar Dhawan<\/em> triumphs.<\/p>\n

Life Beyond the Pitch: Fatherhood, Fame, and Falling Short<\/h2>\n

Dhawan\u2019s off-field chapters are perhaps the most revealing. He talks candidly about his relationship with his ex-wife, the challenges of long-distance fatherhood<\/a>, and the emotional toll of separation. He doesn\u2019t paint himself as a hero nor his partner as a villain. Instead, he reflects with the maturity of someone who has learned that love, like cricket, requires patience, timing, and effort.<\/p>\n

His foray into spirituality, his experimentation with social media, and his desire to give back through the Shikhar Dhawan Foundation are not afterthoughts. They\u2019re positioned as continuations of his journey\u2014a man who\u2019s trying to find balance between performance and presence, celebrity and authenticity.<\/p>\n

Writing Style: Easy, Witty, and Earnestly Dhawan<\/h2>\n

The prose style mimics Dhawan\u2019s public persona\u2014easygoing, sometimes verbose, always entertaining. The sentences are short, packed with idiomatic expressions and colloquial touches. There are moments when the book meanders, with digressions about family members, school days, or video game addictions. But even these tangents carry the warmth of a well-told story by a trusted friend.<\/p>\n

At times, the structure feels loose\u2014more like a collection of vivid vignettes than a tightly-plotted memoir. But this seems intentional. Dhawan isn\u2019t trying to craft a literary masterpiece. He\u2019s letting readers into his living room, offering tea, and chatting about life.<\/p>\n

Strengths of The One<\/em><\/h2>\n

Honest Vulnerability: <\/strong>The book\u2019s defining feature is its emotional honesty. Whether it\u2019s about personal loss, professional failure, or public humiliation, Dhawan refuses to sugarcoat his experiences.
\nRelatable and Rooted: <\/strong>Despite his fame, Dhawan comes across as achingly human. His struggles with schooling, societal expectations<\/a>, and middle-class values will resonate deeply with Indian readers.
\nBehind-the-Scenes Glimpses: <\/strong>His accounts of dressing room dynamics, IPL stardom, and mentorship by legends like Sachin Tendulkar offer a peek into a usually guarded world.
\nNarrative Flair: <\/strong>Dhawan has a natural storytelling gift. His mischievous tone, humorous self-deprecation, and poetic reflections (especially in the final chapters) lend the book a refreshing texture.<\/p>\n

Limitations of the Memoir<\/h2>\n

Loose Editing and Overstuffing: <\/strong>Some chapters are uneven in pace, with anecdotes stretching longer than necessary. A tighter structure would\u2019ve enhanced the narrative flow.
\nLack of Deeper Cricketing Strategy: <\/strong>While the emotional side of matches is explored, the book rarely delves into technical cricketing insights or tactical decisions. Those looking for match dissection may be left wanting.
\nMissing Voices of Others: <\/strong>The memoir is a solo act. Inclusion of reflections from teammates, coaches, or family members could\u2019ve added contrasting perspectives and deepened certain emotional beats.<\/p>\n

Similar Books You Might Enjoy<\/h2>\n

If The One by Shikhar Dhawan<\/em> intrigues you, you might also enjoy:<\/p>\n

Playing It My Way<\/em> by Sachin Tendulkar<\/strong> \u2013 A legend\u2019s legacy told with stately grace.
\n281 and Beyond<\/em> by VVS Laxman<\/strong> \u2013 For a deeper dive into the mental pressures of modern cricket.
\nNo Spin<\/em> by Shane Warne<\/strong> \u2013 Witty, unfiltered, and full of flair\u2014much like Dhawan himself.
\nThe Test of My Life<\/em> by Yuvraj Singh<\/strong> \u2013 A raw, emotional account of resilience in life and sport.<\/p>\n

Final Verdict: More Than Just a Cricket Book<\/h2>\n

The One \u2013 Cricket, My Life and More by Shikhar Dhawan<\/em>\u00a0is not just a chronicle of runs and records. It\u2019s a book about choices, consequences, courage, and connection<\/a>. Shikhar Dhawan bares his heart\u2014not to gain sympathy but to remind readers that failure is not an opposite of success, but its twin sibling.<\/p>\n

In an age where sports stars are heavily media-trained and guarded, Dhawan\u2019s honesty is disarming. This memoir will appeal not just to cricket fans but to anyone who\u2019s ever dared to dream, stumbled, and dared again.<\/p>\n

Whether you remember him for that explosive debut in Mohali, the \u2018Gabbar\u2019 moustache twirl, or his spirited presence in the IPL, The One<\/em> ensures you\u2019ll walk away remembering something else too\u2014his heart.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There\u2019s a reason Shikhar Dhawan has long stood out among Indian cricketers. It\u2019s not just the swashbuckling strokeplay or the signature \u2018thigh-five\u2019 celebration\u2014it\u2019s his unabashed flamboyance, his self-deprecating wit, and a layered personality that walks the line between the street-smart Delhi lad and the deeply introspective seeker. In The One \u2013 Cricket, My Life and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3544","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bookreviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3544"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3544"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3544\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3544"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3544"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3544"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}