Virat Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma recently shared his views on the team management’s decision to ignore Shikhar Dhawan for the upcoming five-match T20I series against the South African cricket team. Dhawan has been one of the most consistent batters in the IPL over the last few years. However, there was no place for him in the team.
Dhawan has an excellent record in ICC tournaments. He even captained India in their away series against the Sri Lankan cricket team last year. However, the selectors did not pick him in the KL Rahul-led squad for the home series against the South African cricket team.
During a discussion on India News, Rajkumar Sharma said that age is just a number, and if Dhawan can contribute to the team’s cause, he should not be ignored. Here’s what he had to say:
“I am slightly surprised. I still feel the Indian team needs him [Dhawan], he is an opening batter and gives the left-right combination. And the way he bats, his strike rate is always good. The World Cup is around the corner and we need his experience there and he is a batter who when he plays, wins you the match.”
Shikhar Dhawan was one of the top run-scorers in IPL 2022
The 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League ended recently. Dhawan moved from Delhi Capitals to Punjab Kings this year. He continued his good form and scored runs consistently at the top for his new team.
Interestingly, he did not receive a place in the squad because the team management reportedly wished to give youngsters an opportunity. The likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Venkatesh Iyer are a part of the squad for the upcoming series. It will be interesting to see which player opens the innings with captain KL Rahul against the Proteas.
