Where does Shikhar Dhawan go from here?

Shikhar Dhawan has not played international cricket since July. The last task was on the Sri Lanka Tour, where he led a limited number of teams to participate in the T20I and ODI series without the regular players participating in the English five-game test series.

Dawan’s performance on the tour was uneven, accumulating 128 points in three ODI matches, including an undefeated 86 points. In three T20Is, he can only score 86 points.

Although he scored 207 in the eight innings of the second round of the IPL in the Delhi capital, Dhawan was excluded from the 2021 T20 World Cup and the T20I series against New Zealand, and the selector insisted that he was “rested”.

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Therefore, when the star batsman returned to the game on the Vijay Hazare trophy, all eyes were on him.

However, featuring Delhi, the opening batsman has played unforgettable so far, with only 26 games in three games. In the first game against Jharkhand, he was eliminated. While National Selection Committee Chairman Chetan Sharma and IPL scouts watched the game at IS Bindra Stadium, Dhawan was sent off 12 points in the second game against Hyderabad. Nevertheless, there is hope of a comeback.

But in Saturday’s game against Uttar Pradesh, his dilemma continued, as the star batsman could only contribute 14 runs before being trapped by Mohsin Khan in the picturesque 16th district stadium. .

So, where does Dhawan go from here?

As the Indian team will play the ODI series with South Africa in January next year, some people in the Cricket Brotherhood believe that Dhawan’s qualifications and experience will come in handy. But considering his state, does he have a chance?

Former Indian batsman and former head coach Anshuman Gaekwad believes that for a good cricketer like Dhawan, “a good game” can change everything.

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“It all depends on how the selector sees it. I believe that the form can be changed, but the class still exists. A batsman like Shikhar only needs a good game to play. Sometimes, you encounter a bad patch, It happened to the best players, including Sunil Gavaskar and Mohinder Amarnath. At that stage, no matter what you try, you will not get results,” Gaekwad said athletic star.

Having worked with several cricket players in the past, Gaekwad understands what the players are going through at such a difficult stage.

“In this case, it’s important to do some self-reflection. You can’t pinpoint exactly what it is—whether it’s mental or technical—and things like this will happen. You have to persevere and make sure that it will happen soon. There will be a round. If necessary, take a break and start again,” Gaekwad added.

So, if Dhawan goes to South Africa, what will he bring?

“He has a lot of experience,” Gekward said. “Well, he is not in the best form, but big players like him bring this experience in the batting department, which is very important in South African conditions. He can go around him and he can also guide this. Young man. That’s it, he must support himself and persevere in this situation.”

After carefully observing the selection process and team affairs, Gaekwad believes that IPL data and some “bad” rounds should not be taken too seriously.

“IPL cannot be the basis for testing or even ODI cricket, because in the final analysis, they are all different formats. There are many players selected for the national team based on their IPL performance, and many players have disappeared. You can’t see them now. In any form of cricket game, you can’t even see it in Ranji Trophy or Mushtaq Ali Trophy. So, you need to be in international cricket game (temperament and mentality),” Gekward said.

“I believe in the horse’s course, but at the same time, you have to value experience…A player like Shikhar has this quality.”

The former goalkeeper batsman and former country selector Saba Karim realized that the competition was fierce, with several young men vying for a position. But he thinks it is important to insist on working with Dhawan before his trip to South Africa.

“This is what makes the draw more challenging and exciting. In the past, Shikhar has had some phased pressure, but he has stepped up and done a good job. Such a healthy game should prompt Shikhar to perform well,” Karim said.

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Although Dhawan has not participated in the Vijay Hazare Trophy so far, Delhi still has a few group matches. “This is a good opportunity for him to strike. Delhi has two more games to play. If the team is eligible for the knockout rounds, he will get more opportunities. Now is the right time for him to start scoring again. “

Karim did not serve as BCCI’s general manager of game development until last year. He believes that in ODI cricket, Dawan “still has a lot to offer.”

“With his experience over the past few years and his performance, he is still a reliable starter. In order to get a left-handed combination, I will still support Shikhar. I can understand that he is going through a difficult phase. Sometimes, you need to relax. Click, and then try to concentrate again, I believe Shikhar can do it,” Karim said.

“At least for South Africa, I will still keep him in the mix and see how the next few series will be…”

In the past, Dhawan has struggled to achieve an incredible comeback. Since it will take some time for the national selectors to name the ODI team for the South Africa Tour, nothing has been lost in this gorgeous opener.