IND vs WI: "The Selectors Will Be 100% Tempted To Have Him In The Indian Team Till The Next World Cup At Least" - Rajkumar Sharma On Shikhar Dhawan

Rajkumar Sharma, Virat Kohli’s former coach, predicts Shikhar Dhawan would remain in the ODI plans laid out by selectors at least till the World Cup.

In the opening ODI of the current three-match series against the West Indies, Dhawan made 97 runs off 99 deliveries. On Sunday, July 24, the second game will be played, and the acting captain will try to steer the Men in Blue to another victory and wrap up the series in their favour.

The Indian Team Needs Shikhar Dhawan: Rajkumar Sharma

Sharma was asked if he thought Dhawan will fit into Rohit Sharma’s aggressive strategy in white-ball cricket during a talk on India News.

He responded: “Absolutely, he has exceptional stats in white-ball cricket, especially if you see his record in ODI cricket, it is extremely fantastic. I believe the selectors will be 100% tempted to have him in the Indian team till the next World Cup at least because the Indian team needs him a lot.”

In 153 ODIs, Dhawan has scored 6422 runs at a very respectable average of 45.54. The seasoned opener is renowned for stepping up on a large stage.

Rohit Sharma And Shikhar Dhawan Provide Stability At The Top: Rajkumar Sharma

Rajkumar Sharma also emphasised the effective partnership Dhawan and Rohit had created at the top of the order, saying:

“He (Dhawan) gives the stability when he opens alongside Rohit Sharma, there is a right and left-handed combination and both of them complement each other extremely well.”

The former first-class cricketer added: “It is a very good thing that it is a fantastic pair, India has an experienced pair in the form of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, and it is also necessary to say that they are an extremely successful pair.”

Sharma continued by highlighting the excellent chemistry between Dhawan and Rohit, explaining:

“We have often seen, when you talk about attacking cricket, that when Rohit Sharma is playing attacking cricket then Shikhar Dhawan plays second fiddle and vice versa when Shikhar’s shots are coming good, then Rohit allows him to play his strokes and he himself plays the waiting game.”

In the 114 ODIs that Dhawan and Rohit have started for Team India, they have amassed 5125 runs overall at a remarkable average of 45.75. The couple has had 18 century-long partnerships as well as 15 half-century ones.

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