Many Indian players are already getting ready for the next year’s World Cup and in the meantime, Saba Karim, a former India selector, has made a significant prediction. He has revealed the player’s identity, who would start the World Cup with Rohit Sharma. This athlete is in excellent form right now.

The former selector was referring to Shikhar Dhawan, who is currently leading India in the ODI series against South Africa.

Shikhar Dhawan’s current form

In recent years, Dhawan has distinguished himself as a hitter. In the three-game West Indies tour this year, which India won 3-0. Dhawan has scored 168 runs in 3 matches at an average of 56 and an 82.35 strike rate, including two half-centuries.

While, he smashed 153 in 3 games during the Zimbabwe tour at an average of 77.

In addition to his prowess with the bat, the Southpaw also has an unbeaten record, with India winning two of the two series he captained in this year. one was against West Indies, and the other was against Sri Lanka.

It’s possible to think that Shikhar Dhawan’s T20I career may be finished, but the same cannot be said of him in ODI format. As Dhawan will likely to open the proceedings for India alongside Rohit Sharma in the World Cup 2023, according to former Indian keeper Saba Karim.

“Shikhar Dhawan’s place in the team has been confirmed. There’s no need to put pressure on him all the time. There will be one or two matches where he won’t score runs. I think the selectors have decided that Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan will be the openers in the next 50-over World Cup,” he said on India News.

Who is better batting all-rounder Shardul Thakur or Hardik Pandya?

Saba Karim further clears the air about the comparison between Shardul Thakur and Hardik Pandya. According to him, Hardik Pandya, who is a strike pacer in the 50-over format, overtook the 30-year-old because he is not the one. Pandya’s ability to play in the middle order is one of the reasons he was better overall, according to him. In contrast, Thakur’s batting has had its ups and downs.

“He is a very useful player. But Hardik Pandya is a batting all-rounder, while Shardul Thakur is a bowling all-rounder. That’s a big difference. We can surely groom Shardul. But I don’t see him becoming India’s No.1 of No.2 bowler in white-ball cricket. He can only play as a third seamer. If he can bat well, it will be an added advantage,” he said.

With the full-strength Indian side already reached Australia for the T-20 World Cup 2022. The second string Indian side is playing the three-match ODI series against South Africa.

Shikhar Dhawan is captaining the Indian side, while Shreyas Iyer is handling the vice-captain’s responsibility. The men in blue lost the first game on the series on Thursday and now they will look to bounce back to level the series when they walk in to crease to play the second match on Sunday.