Shikhar Dhawan Becomes The 5th Indian Player To Hit A Fifty On ODI Captaincy Debut

Updated - 19 Jul 2021, 01:36 AM

Shikhar Dhawan [Image-AFP/Getty]

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Veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan couldn’t have asked for a better start to his captaincy stint as Team India put up a clinical performance against Sri Lanka in the first ODI to claim a 7-wicket win.

While the belligerence of the likes of Prithvi Shaw and the debutant duo of Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan hogged all the limelight, it was Shikhar Dhawan, who ended up being the highest scorer.

During his unbeaten knock of 86 off 95 deliveries, which included 6 fours and a six, the legendary ODI batter went on to scale the Mount.6000 run-barrier in the format. Dhawan is now the 4th fastest batter in the history of ODI cricket to rack up 6000 runs.

The southpaw has taken just 140 innings

And, in the process, Dhawan added yet another feather in his estimated cap as he has now joined an elite list of former Indian captains who made a 50+ on their ODI captaincy debut.

Dhawan has joined the likes of Ajay Jadeja, Ajit Wadekar, Ravi Shastri, and Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar as batters who scored a 50+ score in their very first game as ODI captain.

Among all these names, Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar is the only one who smashed a 100 in his maiden game as ODI captain.

The legendary batsman achieved the feat against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 1997 when he smashed a dazzling 110.

Dhawan may have not been able to get to his hundred but he would be very pleased with the way things panned out for him and his team in the end.

It was only fitting that Shikhar Dhawan knocked off the winning runs.

Thanks to a comprehensive win in the first ODI, India has not only taken a 1-0 in the three-match series but they have also earned 10 ICC ODI Super League points.

Dhawan & co will now be looking to wrap up the series in the second game itself, which will take place on July 20.

Also Read- The Way All Our Boys Played Today Was Tremendous And I Am Very Happy: Shikhar Dhawan