Dhawan making up for lost time
India batsman shines with twin tons.
Indian batsman Shikhar Dhawan. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
LONDON:
India’s fearless opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan is doing the unthinkable at the Champions Trophy — making fans forget Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir.
Those three were the pillars of Indian batting till the recent past, with Tendulkar being the world’s leading scorer and century-maker in both Tests and One-Day International (ODI) cricket.
Only Tendulkar among them has retired from ODI and Twenty20 cricket, but fans are already toasting the next generation of Indian cricketers led by Dhawan, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja.
Dhawan, the 27-year-old left-hander from New Delhi, has been the star of the eight-nation tournament with back-to-back centuries that eased the World Cup champions into the semi-finals — 114 off 94 balls against South Africa and 102 off 107 against West Indies.
He has now scored three international centuries, having made a spectacular 187 off 174 balls against Australia on his Test debut in Mohali in March.
“This boy is such an amazing batsman, I am sure he is here to stay,” said India’s World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev.
“No one here in England is talking about the past ... no one has so far asked about Sachin, Sehwag or Gambhir. Everyone is just talking about Shikhar Dhawan and his batting.
“That is a good sign for Indian cricket. Many young players are already taking over from the seniors. The change is going smoothly.”
Before his Test debut, Dhawan played first-class cricket for nine years under the shadow of his Delhi teammates Sehwag and Gambhir.
Jadeja’s formula for success
Ravindra Jadeja was, on the other hand, pleased with his performance after his maiden five-wicket haul helped restrict the West Indies in their group game on Tuesday.
The left-arm spinner, who claimed five wickets for 36 and was adjudged man of the match, said he kept things simple.
“The wicket was slow,” said Jadeja. “So I realised that if I bowled slow, I could get turn. I also made sure not to bowl outside the off stump and leg stump. I just maintained a straight line.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 13th, 2013.
India’s fearless opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan is doing the unthinkable at the Champions Trophy — making fans forget Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir.
Those three were the pillars of Indian batting till the recent past, with Tendulkar being the world’s leading scorer and century-maker in both Tests and One-Day International (ODI) cricket.
Only Tendulkar among them has retired from ODI and Twenty20 cricket, but fans are already toasting the next generation of Indian cricketers led by Dhawan, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja.
Dhawan, the 27-year-old left-hander from New Delhi, has been the star of the eight-nation tournament with back-to-back centuries that eased the World Cup champions into the semi-finals — 114 off 94 balls against South Africa and 102 off 107 against West Indies.
He has now scored three international centuries, having made a spectacular 187 off 174 balls against Australia on his Test debut in Mohali in March.
“This boy is such an amazing batsman, I am sure he is here to stay,” said India’s World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev.
“No one here in England is talking about the past ... no one has so far asked about Sachin, Sehwag or Gambhir. Everyone is just talking about Shikhar Dhawan and his batting.
“That is a good sign for Indian cricket. Many young players are already taking over from the seniors. The change is going smoothly.”
Before his Test debut, Dhawan played first-class cricket for nine years under the shadow of his Delhi teammates Sehwag and Gambhir.
Jadeja’s formula for success
Ravindra Jadeja was, on the other hand, pleased with his performance after his maiden five-wicket haul helped restrict the West Indies in their group game on Tuesday.
The left-arm spinner, who claimed five wickets for 36 and was adjudged man of the match, said he kept things simple.
“The wicket was slow,” said Jadeja. “So I realised that if I bowled slow, I could get turn. I also made sure not to bowl outside the off stump and leg stump. I just maintained a straight line.”
Published in The Express Tribune, June 13th, 2013.