The senior Indian opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan had a hard time in the last year as injuries kept him out from the national team in the crucial assignments. However, Dhawan is moving on from that past and focusing on making a strong impact in the new year (2020). The 34-year-old has also revealed his biggest target for this year.
After making his international debut in 2010, Shikhar Dhawan has gradually grown up as a crucial opening batsman of his country. His never give up attitude has grown up him as one of the stars of the national side as he developed himself as a consistent performer as an opening batsman. Dhawan is a consistent performer, especially in big tournaments. He was the most run-scorer in both the 2013 and 2017 ICC Champions Trophies and also India’s leading run-scorer in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.
However, Shikhar Dhawan had a tough time in the last year. The left-handed opening batsman has already been dropped from the Test squad due to poor form. While he made a good start in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 by hitting a match-winning century against the defending champions Australia which was India’s second game of that tournament, he was ruled out from the remaining games of that tournament due to fitness issues.
After returning from that injury, Shikhar Dhawan was trying hard to find his old form. After consistently playing some international matches, Dhawan suffered a leg injury during a domestic T20 game. Due to that injury, Dhawan missed out the home limited-overs series against West Indies, which were India’s last assignment in the last year.
Looking forward to score lots of runs this year – Shikhar Dhawan
However, Shikhar Dhawan has returned to the new year with a better goal. Looking forward to a new start with more impactful performances, Dhawan wants to win the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 that will be hosted by Australia from 18th October to 15th November 2019.
Dhawan told bcci.tv, “Lots of injuries last year, but it’s part and parcel of the game. It’s a new year, looking forward to a new start. I always take things in a positive manner. Injuries are natural, just take them in my stride. Looking forward to score lots of runs this year, be a more impactful player, win matches for my team and win the World Cup. This series is a good opportunity for me to score runs. Am always developing my game, developing new shots.”
India and Sri Lanka started the new year with the Guwahati T20I on last Sunday (5th January) night. But, that opening game of the three-match T20I series was failed to begin after the toss due to the rain and wet pitch.