The BCCI has released the 15-member Indian team for the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup, which will be held in the UAE and Oman, with MS Dhoni to mentor the team. Here is Why Dhawan Was Not Included In T20-WC 2021.
Why Dhawan Was Not Included In T20-WC 2021
Whereas Dhoni’s inclusion in the team was a real treat for so many, the listing of absentees in India’s 15-member team also surprised several more. Shikhar Dhawan, who has been in fantastic white-ball form this season and now sits as the leading run-scorer in IPL 2021, with 380 runs at an amazing 54.28 after 8 matches, is among the most surprising withdrawals from the Indian team.
Dhawan successfully completed the 2020 IPL as the 2nd leading run-scorer (KL Rahul’s 670), with 618 runs at 44.14, which includes 2 hundreds and 4 fifties. The lefty recently captained Team India during the away limited-overs series of the Sri Lanka tour, in which the team marked a 2-1 win in the ODIs before having lost the T20Is 1-2 after more than 8 players were placed in isolation.
Shikhar is a very important player for us: Chetan Sharma
Chetan Sharma, the head of the selection committee, would not reveal the specific reason for Dhawan’s exclusion, but he did disclose that he is “in the loop.”
“Shikhar is a very important player for us. Can’t disclose the discussion. He is in the loop. We thought the need of the hour was to look at others and rest him,” he said in an Interaction.
Sharma said further: “Ishan Kishan can open besides Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul. If the management says Virat should open, that’s up to them to decide”.
Furthermore, Kohli began with Rohit Sharma in the home T20I series with England previously this year in Ahmedabad, and he has stated his intention to remain in that spot for the T20 World Cup.
However, Sharma underlined the key reason for Chahal’s exclusion: “Spinners who bowl quick was our priority. Hence, we went with Rahul Chahar,” while he admitted that Varun Chakravarthy is “surprise package as a mystery bowler.”
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