As the ODI series against South Africa ended on a disappointing note, Shikhar Dhawan’s performance was the only bright spot for India as the veteran batter scored 169 runs in 3 matches which included two fifties. Former India off-spinner is quite ecstatic with his performance as he believes there is a lot of cricket left in him.

Before the series, there were talks about whether India should persist with him or should give Ruturaj Gaikwad a chance to look ahead to the future. Harbhajan said that Dhawan is performing as well as any youngster.

Shikhar Dhawan Image Source : AP — Shikhar Dhawan Image Source: AP

“I was very happy when Shikhar Dhawan made a comeback. The reason is that he is a seasoned player and if you are comparing him with other players, saying that the other players are young, then which player is batting at a level that Shikhar Dhawan isn’t? So I am so happy to see Shikhar Dhawan back,” Harbhajan Singh spoke to Sports Tak.

Harbhajan also hit out at the critics who keep pointing out certain players’ age as he believes that performance should be the only criteria to judge a player, not his age.

“As soon as he returned, he hit two fifties. India lost the matches there but he did his job. I don’t understand why people look at the ages of some players but not at others’. There were some players who were playing the World Cup at 38, 39, 40 years of age,” he added.

File image of Indian cricketers Shikhar Dhawan [L] and Rohit Sharma | Sportzpics for BCCI

Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are likely to open in the ODI series against West Indies

Harbhajan further added that Dhawan’s fitness is as good as any youngster’s so he should keep going.

“Now Shikhar Dhawan at 37 years (36 years) is as young as (Ishan) Kishan is I think. His fitness is very good. If you say that at 37 years of age he can’t make a comeback, then I think it will be wrong. I am so happy that he made a comeback and he showed how much is left in him.” he added.

Last year Shikhar Dhawan led India in the Sri Lanka tour when all the test players were in England but he was dropped from the squad for the T20 World Cup. Though he hasn’t made a comeback in the T20I squad, he is still in India’s scheme of things to play in the ODI World Cup 2023 to be held in India.

Also, read I Am Surprised Why Bhuvneshwar Kumar Is Still In The T20 Squad – Madan Lal