Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], February 12 : Former Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan is relishing his stint here in the ongoing Legend 90 League which is being played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium.
The tournament, which began on February 8, will continue until February 18, featuring a host of legendary cricketers returning to competitive action, a press release by Legend 90 League stated.
The Legend 90 League has brought together some of cricket's biggest names, including Suresh Raina, and Ross Taylor, alongside Dhawan, as they compete in this innovative 90-ball format.
Representing Delhi Royals, Dhawan expressed his delight at being part of the League, emphasizing the opportunity it provides for retired players to continue enjoying the game.
"It is going on very well, the League is organised well. The wickets and grounds are good, even fans are loving it. So very very happy I'm playing this league," said Dhawan after Delhi Royals defeated Rajasthan Kings on Saturday, as quoted from the release.
"It is a great experience for players like us. We enjoy playing cricket and after playing such high pressure international cricket, we can just enjoy our game here putting our best efforts," he added.
Dhawan also commended Shivain Sharma, Director of the Legend 90 League, for his vision in conceptualizing the tournament.
"Off course it is great vision from Shivain (Sharma). There is a great craze for this league, I'm sure viewership is also good. I can see fans already loving the show," Dhawan signed off.
In his very first match, Rishi Dhawan opened the batting and smashed a stunning 50 off just 24 balls against Dubai Giants. He followed it up with a brilliant spell, taking three wickets to guide his team to a commanding 63-run victory. The performance was a statement that retirement may have taken him out of professional cricket, but it certainly hasn't dulled his instincts, the release added.
He didn't stop there. In the very next match, against Big Boys Unikari, he was part of a record-breaking performance. The Warriors posted a staggering 240/0, with Martin Guptill stealing the show with an unbelievable 160* off 49 balls. But at the other end was Rishi Dhawan, playing a crucial role with an unbeaten 76* off 42 deliveries, stitching together a historic partnership. The Warriors clinched a massive 89-run win, further solidifying their dominance in the tournament.