In a poignant moment for Canadian cricket, former captain Navneet Dhaliwal has declared his retirement from international cricket. The 37-year-old batsman will bid farewell after Canada’s T20 World Cup match against Afghanistan on February 19 in Chennai.
Dhaliwal made the announcement following a defeat to New Zealand, reflecting on a career filled with milestones. ‘I had already decided that this World Cup game against Afghanistan would be my last international outing,’ he shared, his voice steady with resolve.
Leading Canada to qualify for the 2024 T20 World Cup stands out as one of his proudest achievements. Dhaliwal cherished captaining the side and scoring crucial runs in the tournament’s opening matches. As he steps away, he eyes a future in coaching, eager to nurture the next generation of Canadian talent.
Praising young teammate Yuvraj Samra’s century against New Zealand, Dhaliwal highlighted the rapid growth of cricket in Canada. ‘New Zealand is among the world’s elite teams. Scoring a hundred against them shows how far we’ve come,’ he noted.
Dhaliwal ends his T20 career as Canada’s most prolific batter. Debuting in 2019, he amassed 1,305 runs in 46 innings across 48 matches, including 10 half-centuries. In ODIs, since his 2024 debut, he scored 456 runs in 17 innings with four fifties. He captained in 29 T20Is and 4 ODIs, securing 21 victories.
Canada, now led by Dilpreet Bajwa in Group D of the 2026 T20 World Cup, has exited the tournament after three group-stage losses. Dhaliwal’s departure marks the end of an era, but his legacy will inspire future stars.