The experienced Shikhar Dhawan‘s place in the T20I team is in danger after KL Rahul is giving impressive performances. The former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir also gives KL Rahul the priority in the shortest format.
Indian limited-overs opener Shikhar Dhawan made a comeback in the Indian team after he was injured in the T20 domestic tournament last year. His injury gave a chance to KL Rahul to start the opening partnership with Rohit Sharma. Rahul has utilised this opportunity to impress with his classic performance.
Shikhar Dhawan is not Impactful in the T20 format
In the ongoing T20I series against Sri Lanka, Rohit Sharma has been given rest which led Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul the opportunity to open together. Rahul struck six fours at the strike rate of 140.62, before getting out at 45 runs. Talking about his previous performance, in the last nine innings, he scored 356 runs at an impressive strike-rate of 142.40.
India needs to look beyond Shikhar Dhawan – Gautam Gambhir
Meanwhile, Shikhar Dhawan could not create a strong impact in the second T20I match in Indore as he scored 32 runs in 29 balls before being sent by Wanindu Hasaranga. The cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir, who is always in front for giving his suggestions, said that the experienced had lost the shine to be a big performer in the shortest format.
“In one-day cricket, not in T20 cricket,” said Gautam Gambhir
“He has not done a lot in T20 cricket if you see the entire stat. I am not a big believer in number and stats he has not had that impact, the kind of impact that people like Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul has had on T20 format. So probably, India needs to look beyond Shikhar Dhawan,” Gautam Gambhir said.
Meanwhile, Dhawan will have to work hard in the last T20I match against Sri Lanka in Pune on Friday (10 January) to lock his place in the team.