Is Shikhar Dhawan an asset or liability?
The next stage of Indian cricket’s development is quickly approaching. The team management has already started shaping the young players to become the next big thing because it is predicted that several seniors may retire from one or more forms after the 2023 World Cup.
Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, and Rahul Dravid all retired before being replaced by Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, and Rohit Sharma. Ten years later, these players are now considered to be legends of the game, but sooner or later, they will have to stand aside and let the young players to represent the club.
The process has already started because Kohli has received breaks on a regular basis and because Rohit Sharma, the captain for all formats, also receives breaks from time to time so he can manage his workload and forego the less-important competitions. Dhawan, who earlier played in all forms, is only seen in the ODI format these days. Dhawan is likely to participate in the ODI World Cup in 2019 given his physical and mental condition, but the opening batter is unaware of what is in store for him.
“Till the time I am playing for India, I would like to be an asset and not a liability. I am a calm, mature person. The performance is a reflection of my experience. My basics have been pretty strong, and I have put in a lot of work to improve my technique. Understanding a format is also very important. I understand the dynamics of the ODI format, and that has helped me a lot,” Hindustan Times quoted Dhawan.
It always provides me a chance to stay fresh whenever I play a format after a two- or three-month break: Dhawan Shikhar
Dhawan has been a regular in the IPL, earning 618 runs in 2020, 587 runs in 2021, and 460 more runs in the 2022 season. He last represented India in T20Is in July 2021. He has, however, played very differently in ODIs. He has 975 runs in 22 ODIs since the year began, and he will be looking to increase that number when he captains Team India in Zimbabwe. Few could have predicted that a 36-year-old opener would play thus well in the game with fewer than 20 overs.
He further added, “I never let this feeling creep into my system that “Oh God, I am playing only one format or I am playing an ODI series after a long time. Will my body respond well to the rigors of international cricket, or will it not?” Frankly speaking, I don’t like entertaining these thoughts. I view it like this. If I am playing a format after a gap of two months or three months, it always gives me a chance to remain fresh and come into battle fully fit and with enough time to work on my game.”
