Shikhar Dhawan, India vs Australia 2020, Rajkot, Twitter Reactions
Shikhar Dhawan (Image Credit: BCCI Twitter)

The senior Indian opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan has returned to the form in style. The left-handed batsman once again played a superb knock of 96 in the Rajkot ODI against Australia but missed out his deserving century after succumbing to nervous nineties. However, the Indian cricket fans are very happy to see Dhawan has returned to his familiar form during India vs Australia 2020 ODI series.

Last year, Shikhar Dhawan had the hard-luck as he had to fight with the injuries. Despite scoring a match-winning century against Australia in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, he missed out the remainder of that tournament due to injury.

Shikhar Dhawan, Pakistan
Shikhar Dhawan (Image Credit: Google)

Dhawan later returned to the limited-overs international cricket and fought hard to play big knocks, but his strike-rate went down, and he kept losing his wicket on average scores. In late November 2019, Dhawan had suffered another injury, and it was the leg injury that forced him to miss out the remainder of the international matches of 2019.

Shikhar Dhawan has now returned to the national side at the beginning of the new year and already started to perform in his familiar mood. The 34-year-old has now smashed three successive 50s in the last three international matches. In 2020, Dhawan has scored 32 runs (T20I), 52 runs (T20I), 74 runs (ODI) and 96 runs (ODI) respectively.

Rajkot ODI: Shikhar Dhawan scored 96 runs off 90 balls with 13 fours and only six

The ongoing Rajkot ODI is the crucial match for India as they can’t afford another defeat in the concurrent three-match home ODI series against Australia. After the visitors sent the hosts to bat first, the Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Dhawan provided a good start with the 81-run partnership.

Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma (Image Credit: BCCI Twitter)

While Rohit was dismissed for 42 runs, Dhawan remained unstoppable in this innings. The left-handed batsman completed his half-century in 60 balls. After completing his 50, Dhawan became more aggressive. Australian pacer Kane Richardson finally stopped him on 96 runs after Mitchell Starc grabbed the catch at fine leg. But before that wicket, he put another crucial 103-run stand for the second wicket with skipper Virat Kohli.

Dhawan scored 96 off 90 balls (13 fours and only six) but just missed out his deserving century by four runs. It could be his first international century after the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, but now he has to wait for more to score the three-figure mark in international cricket.

Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan (Image Credit: BCCI Twitter)

However, the Indian cricket fans are very happy to see the old Dhawan, who likes to destroy the opponent bowlers.

Here are some twitter reactions after his latest batting performance:

https://twitter.com/im_yash2307/status/1218108776005292033

https://twitter.com/maharpkm/status/1218111482983931904

https://twitter.com/Bhopal_Vishnoi/status/1218115213133697025

https://twitter.com/DipankarKumarV1/status/1218114559388467200