Ravi Shastri’s statement on Dhawan’s absence in the team

Shikhar Dhawan played a pivotal role for the Indian cricket team, particularly in events like the 2013 Champions Trophy and the 2015 and 2019 ODI World Cups, where his performances were crucial to India’s success. However, unfortunate injuries during those World Cups and subsequent inconsistencies seemed to have impacted his position in the team’s plans.

Despite his past contributions, Dhawan has been excluded from recent series and events, indicating a potential shift in the team’s future planning. Notably, he was not part of the India A squad for events like the Asian Games and the series against Ireland. In light of these developments, Ravi Shastri, the former head coach of Team India, has made a significant statement regarding Dhawan’s status within the team. 

During his conversation with Star Sports, Ravi Shastri delved into Team India’s strategic preparations for the upcoming World Cup and Asia Cup. He touched on various topics, including the return of players like KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer after their injuries. He also highlighted the performances of young talents like Tilak Verma and Ishaan Kishan, praising their contributions. 

On Dhawan’s absence, he said, Shikhar Dhawan does not get the respect he probably deserves. He said, people never gave Shikhar Dhawan the credit he should have gotten. He is a wonderful player. When we lost the World Cup semi-finals in the year 2019, the team missed him a lot. Shastri further said that having a left-handed batsman in the top order helps you. When the ball swings, it comes in for a right-handed batsman but goes out for a left-handed batsman, making it easier to score runs. 

Shikhar Dhawan boasts an impressive World Cup record, featuring in two tournaments (2015 and 2019) and amassing 537 runs in 10 matches. With a highest score of 137 and a tally of three centuries and a half-century, Dhawan’s ability to perform consistently on the global stage is evident.