Veteran Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan has been out of the national side since the Bangladesh series in December last year, however, the left-hander has been quite open about his ouster. Dhawan, who has been out of the Test side since 2018 and T20Is in 2021, led the second-string ODI side in three assignments in West Indies, New Zealand and against South Africa in India. However, due to loss of form and an inferior strike rate, the selectors preferred the exuberant Shubman Gill and the left-hander, Ishan Kishan, following his double century in the series decider in Bangladesh.
Dhawan, who opened with Shubman Gill in the West Indies series, has seen first-hand, how the 23-year-old took to ODI cricket. In a matter of a few innings, Gill has smashed four centuries in the format, including a double hundred against New Zealand at an outstanding strike rate, making himself undroppable from the ODI squad. Opening up on his ouster and comeback in the future, Dhawan said that he tried his best and if someone else is better than his best, then it’s fine, he doesn’t have much of a problem.
Dhawan, who attended the inaugural Formula E race in India, spoke to the news agency PTI on the sidelines of the event and said that he is happy and content where he is at and was optimistic about his return.
“They (ups and downs) are part of life. With time, with experience, you learn how to handle them with ease. I find lot of strength in them. I did my best. If somebody is doing better than my best, that is fine.
“That is why that person is there and I am not there. I am very happy and content wherever I am. I make sure my process goes on strong. Of course, there is always a chance of me coming back to the side,” he added.
Dhawan, who recently was at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) ahead of the 2023 edition of the IPL, will lead Punjab Kings after being named the full-time captain of the franchise following Mayank Agarwal’s ouster. Dhawan wasn’t desperate on making a comeback saying he has already achieved a lot and if it has to happen, it will eventually.
The veteran left-hander has played 34 Tests, 167 ODIs and 68 T20Is for India since his debut in 2010.
