“If Someone Is Doing Better…”: Shikhar Dhawan On Not Finding A Place In The Indian Cricket Team

Shikhar Dhawan found himself out of the Indian team less than three months after captaining the ODI side but the 37-year-old opener is yet to give up his burning desire to play the World Cup at home later this year. One of India’s finest openers in the 50-over format, Dhawan was dropped from the team after a poor run of form which included the three matches played in Bangladesh in December. The southpaw had led the team in New Zealand in November when Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul were rested.

Shubman Gill came into the team at the expense of Dhawan and the young opener hasn’t looked back since then, with four centuries including a double hundred in his last seven innings.

Speaking to PTI on the sidelines of the first Formula E race in India, the ever-optimistic Dhawan looked back at the ups and downs of the last three months. “They (ups and downs) are part of life. With time, with experience you learn how to handle them with ease. I find great strength in them. I gave my best. If someone is doing better than my best , then that is good.

“That’s why that person is there and I am not there. I am very happy and satisfied where I am. I make sure my process is strong. Of course there is always a chance of me coming back.”

Dhawan said, ‘It is good if it comes, it is also good if it does not come. I have achieved a lot and I am happy with it. Has played 34 Tests, 167 ODIs and 68 T20s.

With his last Test in 2018 and T20 Internationals in 2021, Dhawan had become a one-format player by the time he was dropped from the ODI set-up.

His immediate focus is on the upcoming IPL in which he will captain the Punjab Kings for the first time.

Dhawan has returned from a 10-day training session at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. In another week, he will be in Mohali for a pre-IPL camp with the Punjab Kings. “My IPL preparations are going well. I was in Bangalore for 10 days. The focus was on fitness. With the IPL coming up, I will be joining the camp in Mohali from February 24 and then we will regroup later Will move on.”

“I’m in great shape and looking forward to leading the way,” he said.

During the Fomrula e weekend in Hyderabad, Dhawan also got to meet the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, whose passion for cars and motorsport is well known.

Talking about his first time in a Formula E race, he said: “It is always lovely meeting Sachin paaji. He is very passionate about sports cars.

“It was a great experience. I took a lap of the track. I see a lot of potential for Formula E in India as it is sustainable and promotes a healthy environment. Since it is mainly conducted on public roads goes, so it should collect a lot of land in India.”

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