Ready to scale the Shikhar Dhawan

The decision to show Virender Sehwag the door may not have been an easy one. But perhaps Dhawan’s  form in this domestic season and sharpness on the field allowed the selectors to make a bold decision. The 27-year-old has been waiting for the big day ever since he returned from the tour of the West Indies in 2011.

That not-so-fruitful Caribbean tour may have given this bindaas Delhi boy sleepless nights. The wickets were far from conducive for stroke-play. Naturally, he failed to make an impact.

How he has turned it around in just two domestic seasons!
He was refreshingly consistent this year (he averaged 51.22 in Ranji), got a  century in each of North Zone’s two games in the Duleep Trophy, notched up a ton against an England XI in a warm-up limited-overs game, and hit a compact 63 in the first innings of the Irani Cup.

 So what has changed? His teammates say that he has developed a sense of responsibility in the last two seasons and it’s showing in his batting.
Has marriage played a part? “Maturity comes with age,” Dhawan had said when DNA spoke to him during the Irani Trophy. “I’m still the same guy but marriage has brought a lot of responsibility in my attitude, be it in cricket or life.”

Dhawan has been trying to rectify a weakness too — remember, how the slanting delivery outside off would get him into trouble.

Although he has an attacking game, he never compromises on his technique. He can shift gears at will. Add to the lot his improved temperament and you have a fine package of a player.

Vijay and Dhawan have played many domestic matches together, or against each other. Somewhere they are identical in their styles. Both like to rotate the strike till they find their feet. His fielding too is exceptional, always a welcome option for any captain? And he is a southpaw — as they say nothing like a left-right combination. So will he pip Ajinkya Rahane to the opening post? Come March 14, we’ll know.

@shekharluthra