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ToggleIndian National Cricket team opener Shikhar Dhawan, who was struggling with the bat, has finally stormed back to form during the fourth ODI against Australia at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali. Meanwhile, the southpaw has answered all the critic who was questioning his place in the playing XI.
Dhawan returns to form
Dhawan – who didn’t register a single half-century in his last ten innings was feeling the heat. However, he came back in great fashion when the men in blues are in its last leg of preparation ahead of the ICC World Cup. The home side was in a bit of pressure after losing the last match at Ranchi. However, the openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan provided a solid start after Virat Kohli opted to bat first. The men in blues did not have a lot of this recently, but India have made a decent start to this game.
There was not much on offer for the bowlers, true, but Dhawan and Rohit looked keen on cashing in. Dhawan, especially, was in really good form, while Rohit was very circumspect. Just when everyone was starting to cast doubts over Dhawan’s form, the left-hander storms back to form. He brought his half-century in just 44 deliveries dominating the Australian bowlers. Shikhar Dhawan made the Aussie bowlers look like average hitting them for boundaries at will. Rohit Sharma was not lagging behind as he brought his fifty as well.
In the process, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma have surpassed the record of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. The current Indian openers have thus far combined to amass 4389 runs. On the other hand, Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag had scored 4387 runs while opening the innings for the India National Cricket Team.
Dhawan brings his 16th ODI hundred
The southpaw continued the onslaught to bring his 16th ODI century to issue a warning to the bowlers ahead of the showpiece event in England. Although Rohit Sharma departed, Shikhar Dhawan continued his hit the ball brutally. However, the southpaw finally departed after a well made 143 runs from 115 deliveries including 18 boundaries and three sixes.
The openers now have set a perfect platform for the middle-order batters to launch an attack. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul looked in great touch as India aim to post a massive target on the board.
Twitter reactions:
Well played @SDhawan25 ?????
— Michael Clarke (@MClarke23) March 10, 2019
Shikhar #Dhawan returns to Form with Blasting Century. #indvsAus #cricket #evm #LokSabhaElections2019 #ipl pic.twitter.com/Lp3Z8o3KH3
— Jameel Aahmed Milansaar (@wwwjameel) March 10, 2019
Love it when a player is under the microscope and he pulls out a gem of an innings. @SDhawan25 well batted. Australia have a fight on their hands tonight. #AUSvIND #cricket
— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) March 10, 2019
So happy for Shikhar Dhawan! He is a fantastic one day batsman and now he has got a big score under his belt. And yes, well done to the selectors for picking him this game. ??#INDvAUS
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) March 10, 2019
This is simply sensational striking from Shikhar Dhawan. Only seeing the gaps, oblivious to the presence of fielders
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 10, 2019
Shikhar Dhawan in Mohali
2013: Scored 187 on his Test debut v Australia—the fastest ever by a debutant
2019: Scored his 16th ODI Ton, v Australia and also completed 10000 List A runs#INDvAUS
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) March 10, 2019
Shikhar Dhawan century with metro speed. Before World Cup he gained his form good sign. Playing 114 Runs. KK Rao pic.twitter.com/yliwUWyvYQ
— k kumar rao (@kkrao3107K) March 10, 2019
Gabbar is Back@SDhawan25 #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/WBS44flqLd
— Me (@ANUJ23653763) March 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/AsliVikrant007/status/1104687405171269634
So we have to wait for 3 miserable innings from Shikhar Dhawan for him to get a big score ?? #INDvsAUS
— Tushar Jadhav (@tusharrjadhav) March 10, 2019
Well played Shiky, beautiful half century. Now go for Dha-One Hundred ?? @SDhawan25 #INDvAUS
— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) March 10, 2019
https://twitter.com/Dhaval750/status/1104687683920629762
Well played @SDhawan25 like champ. Congratulations for well knock, a stupendous ???
— Loveraj Joshi (@raftaarjoshi) March 10, 2019
Rohit sharma to shikhar dhawan right now #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/8vruuPhGvb
— Rishikesh Kumar (@RishikeshViews) March 10, 2019