Virat Kohli Defends Under Performing Shikhar Dhawan

India skipper has leapt in defence of under-performing opener Shikhar Dhawan. The left-handed batsman returned to action in the just-concluded T20I series against West Indies after recovering from a thumb injury. It was the same injury that ended his World Cup campaign prematurely. In the same game, he had scored a stunning century in the win over Australia.

Dhawan has failed to hit the ground running. In the three-match series, he managed  to score only 27 runs in the three innings against West Indies. India completed a 3-0 whitewash over West Indies by clinching an 7-wicket win in the final T20I in Guyana on Tuesday. Deepak Chahar led the foundation by taking four wickets before fifties from Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli took India home.

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Dhawan’s form, nonetheless, has become a matter of concern for the team. However, Virat Kohli is not worried at all. The India skipper said that Dhawan’s poor run with the bat in the T20I series is not sign of concern.

“Not really, he is a very experienced player and as I said T20 cricket we don’t really look much into how guys are playing and form and stuff like that because you need to get on with the game and you’ll get out at some stage,’‘ Virat Kohli said in the post match presentation.

“50-over Cricket gives you a bit more time to get into your innings. I think once he gets a bit of time in the middle, we know the skill set he has and the way he can bat. So, not concerned at all,” added Kohli.

Kohli further said that the ODIs would give Dhawan more time to ease and take on the bowlers once he settles down.

“You know this format will give him space and time to just ease himself into it and not necessarily to have to go after the bowlers. I think he is an experienced enough player to know how to build an innings and get big runs,” said Virat Kohli.

India will play three ODIs against West Indies before locking horns against the hosts in a two-Test series.