Confident Shikhar Dhawan Will Be In Mix For 2023 ODI World Cup - Pragyan Ojha

Though Shikhar Dhawan is currently leading India in the ODI series against West Indies, in which the Men in Blue are leading 2-0 with only one more match to go; there are still questions being raised over his form with the bat.

Dhawan was the Player of the Match for his 97 in the first ODI win in Trinidad, but in the next match, he struggled for 31 balls to score 13 runs and got out as India was chasing 312-runs to win. Eventually, India got their thanks to half-centuries from Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson, and Akshar Patel.

Age is also not on his side as he is 36 and will be 37 by the time the 2023 ODI World Cup rolls in. The left-hander is no longer in contention for Tests and T20Is and is only left with ODIs as the lone format he plays in.

With many openers including left-hander Ishan Kishan vying for a place in the team, former India spinner Pragyan Ojha opined on whether Shikhar Dhawan will make it into the final 15 for the ODI World Cup in India next year.

“I am seeing the right signs. When you look at a senior player, you have to see ki unke saath kya kiya jaa raha hai. He’s in the mix [for the 2023 ODI World Cup] and now, when the seniors are not there and he’s just playing one format, toh unko kaptaan bhi banaya gaya hai. He’s the captain, the leader of the pack, and the batting which looked rusty in England is now looking better … he’s trying to get into that space. It is clear that Rohit Sharma wants Shikhar kyunki dono ki sajjedaari bhi itni achchi hai …,” he told Cricket Journalist Jamie Alter on Glance.

Shikhar Dhawan didn’t have a very good ODI series in England though he has 6435 runs in 154 ODIs at an average of 45.30 and 17 centuries to his name.

They Have Both Done A Brilliant Job Together: Pragyan Ojha On Opening Partnership Of Shikhar Dhawan And Rohit Sharma

Only recently, Dhawan and Rohit had combined in the first ODI in England as India knock off the target of 111 runs after a six-for from Jasprit Bumrah. Dhawan didn’t look much in touch in that innings as Rohit Sharma flew off making 70-odd while Dhawan made 31*.

“They have both done a brilliant job together. I think in world cricket they are third or fourth [sic: fourth highest in ODIs as an opening pair] and Rohit Sharma believes that if someone is consistently performing or has done really well over the years, you can’t just discard him. Rohit definitely gives you that cushion and it’s a good thing, kyunki ICC events ki baat karein toh wahan pe thoda experience zaroor chahiye.

Ojha further added that he is confident Dhawan will be in contention for the 2023 World Cup and compared his situation to MS Dhoni who played the 2019 World Cup despite being 38 years old.

“Rohit has said this and he is sticking to it. I am confident that Shikhar will be in the mix unless there is some forced change. I think he’s in a pretty good space and he’s fit and that is the benchmark. You can’t just fool around with not being fit. If you see MS Dhoni at 40 or 41, he made a statement where he said that if I am part of a team, I may or may not perform but nobody should be able to tell that MS Dhoni is not fit. If I am fit, if I am running around and doing everything that a young guy can do then I am happy that I am giving my best,” he added.

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