In The One, Shikhar Dhawan takes readers on the incredible journey of his life. Growing up in the intensely competitive cricketing scene of Delhi, Dhawan started out as a wicketkeeper but later transitioned to an opening batsman, a move that would define his career.

Flamboyant, maverick, charismatic - these are some words one would use to describe Shikhar Dhawan. One of the most aggressive and stylish batsmen in modern cricket, Dhawan has been behind some of India's most iconic victories. Off the field, Dhawan's life has been nothing short of a roller-coaster ride, and he bares it all in this memoir. How did a bar conversation with a former cricketer help Dhawan improve his batting? What made him visit an astrologer while he was still a teenager trying to make it big in cricket?

According to Virat Kohli, Shikhar has always brought joy to the game - on the field with his stroke play and off it with his infectious energy. This book captures the heart of the man we have all shared the dressing room with.

'Shikhar wasn't just my opening partner, he was the calm to my storm, and together we built some unforgettable stands. His story is just like his batting - fearless, honest and full of flair," remarked Rohit Sharma.

Shikhar Dhawan believes the big break in his career came in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy in England and Wales. "All those years of hard work, self-doubt and persistence paid off in a big way in that one solitary tournament. I went out to bat and everything just fell into place. It was as if I was destined to score runs in that tournament, and with every shot, my confidence grew. The Champions Trophy did not just change my career path, it altered my life forever!"

He managed to amass 701 runs at an average of 77.88, including three hundreds & three fifties, in ten innings at a strike rate of 101.59. His average remains the highest among the batters with 700-plus runs in the ICC Champions Trophy.

Cricket has taught him to never stop learning, growing and adapting and this gift has broadened his horizons and pushed him into a brand-new world: content creation and social media - an unconventional pathway for an international cricketer to traverse.

In the author's note, Dhawan has remarked: "As I prepare to move on to the next phase of my existence, I have nothing but gratitude for the opportunities I have had and the lessons I have learnt. Life and cricket can be unpredictable, because you never know what happens the next instant or off the next ball.

This is not just my story, it is a celebration of my life, cricket - the game I love - and the unyielding human spirit."

The book is well worth reading and will provide much to think and talk about. The quality of the paper and the generous spacing all enhance the fascinating material. The photographs are marvellous. Action shots, close-ups and intimate impressions of situations which turn up in this publication are all of an exceptionally high standard.

He had enjoyed an excellent first-class career, including Tests. In 122 first-class matches, he hit 25 hundreds & 29 fifties - his aggregate being 8499 at an average of 44.26 in 122 matches with a highest of 224 for Delhi in a Ranji Trophy fixture vs Baroda at Moti Bagh Stadium, Vadodara in November 2009.

In 34 Tests, he managed to amass 2315 runs at an average of 40.61, including seven hundreds & five fifties. He remains the only Indian batter and the sixth overall to score a hundred before lunch on the first day of a Test match, accomplishing the feat against Afghanistan at Bengaluru in 2018.

In ODIs, he had amassed 6793 runs at an average of 44.11, including 17 hundreds & 39 fifties, in 167 matches. Managed 537 runs at an average of 53.70, including three hundreds and a fifty, in ten innings in the World Cup.

Cricket enthusiasts would have loved to see his international and first-class career record.

The book is handsomely produced and economically priced.