BAN v IND 2022: “Could be a sad end to a glorious career”- Karthik says Kishan’s exploits have put Dhawan’s career in limbo

Ishan Kishan slammed the fastest double ton in ODI history in just 126 balls.

Veteran India cricketer Dinesh Karthik has opined that Ishan Kishan has put severe pressure on the opener, Shikhar Dhawan, to come good in any further opportunity he gets after scoring a record-breaking double-century in the third and final ODI against Bangladesh on December 10.

Kishan, who was opening with Dhawan in place of injured Rohit Sharma, smoked 210 runs in just 131 balls with 24 fours and 10 sixes to his name. He also made and broke various records in his knock.

Kishan became the first batter to score a double century before death overs in an ODI inning, at 24 years and 145 days, he is the youngest to score an ODI double ton and his milestone came in just 126 balls, making him the fastest to reach the 200-run mark.

On the other hand, Shikhar Dhawan’s poor run of form continued as he fell for 3 runs in 8 balls, which was his third consecutive single-digit score in the series after 7 and 8 in the first two ODIs. He has scored just one fifty in the last 11 ODI innings thus far and pressure has built on him to perform or make way for someone else.

BAN v IND 2022: “It’s all about performance,” Ishan Kishan says he can’t complain about batting slot after hitting 210 in 3rd ODI

With the World Cup next year, Shubman Gill, Kishan, and Dhawan are expected to battle it out for one of the opening slots. But Dinesh Karthik feels that Ishan Kishan’s exploit of double ton in quick time has left Dhawan’s future in a fix.

Speaking to Cricbuzz, Karthik said that Dhawan could be left out of the Sri Lanka series if Rohit Sharma is fit.

“For Sri Lanka series, where does Dhawan stand? It is going to be interesting to see how they are going to leave out Ishan Kishan. Shubman Gill has been doing so well. If Rohit Sharma is available, somebody has to miss out. It could well be him (Dhawan). That could be a sad end to a glorious career. But some questions to answer for the new selectors," said Karthik.

Dhawan, 37, has said numerous times how he has his eyes set on playing in the 2023 World Cup and was captain of the Indian team on various tours recently as well. But his form with the bat and strike rate in the last year has been a huge concern and the new selectors will keep this in mind, as the general consensus is to move ahead with the young lot.

Karthik said that if Gill was in the squad for the Bangladesh series, he would have replaced Sharma in the 3rd ODI and congratulated Kishan for making the most of his opportunity.

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“Interestingly, if Shubman Gill had been part of the squad, he would have probably opened because he has been doing it for some time with aplomb. Ishan Kishan, given an opportunity, has taken it with both hands. This is going to put Shikhar Dhawan in a fix.

It’s very nice to see someone coming out and being honest with the fact that, 'you know what, I could have got a 300 if I had batted, but it didn’t happen’. Also shows his hunger. He has been walking that thin line with a few of the keepers being part of it and hence not getting that opportunity. Now, he has pushed that door and said, ‘I am ready. Are you going to look at me?” Karthik concluded.  

The next limited-overs assignment for India will at home against Sri Lanka who will play three T20Is on January 3,5 and 7 and then three ODIs on January 10, 12, and 15.

(Cricbuzz inputs)