“Aisa lagta hain team ne mooh mod sa liya hain,” Aakash Chopra on Shikhar Dhawan’s chances to play ODI World Cup

Dhawan's last appearance in the 50-over format was against Bangladesh in December 2022.

By Salman Anjum - 26 Jul, 2023

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has said that Shikhar Dhawan deserves a place in India’s 2023 ODI World Cup squad but it seems highly unlikely that the veteran opener will be considered.

There were reports claiming that Dhawan will be considered for the Asian Games but the Indian selectors named a young side with Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal being the opening batter options.

The southpaw has been left out of India’s squad for the upcoming ODI series against West Indies as well, starting July 27 in Barbados.

“Shikhi boy's name should have been on this list but it seems like it won't be there because his name is not there for the West Indies tour as well and you didn't put his name for the Asian Games too. Aisa lagta hain ke team ne mooh mod sa liya hain (So it seems like the team has turned away from him)," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

Earlier this year, Dhawan was dropped from the Indian squad for the home ODI series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand. His last appearance in the 50-over format was against Bangladesh in December 2022.

According to Aakash Chopra, Dhawan did not do much wrong but was replaced by other options who were equally proficient in other forms of the game.

“When he played the last World Cup, he had a fracture and went out but not before scoring a century in that match as well. There is no competition for him in ODI cricket but at this point in time it doesn't look like the Indian selectors or team management are thinking about him at all."

“It is like you are doing very well but suddenly someone comes and because he is a three-format player and is doing well in multiple places, he goes ahead of you. You say - ‘I never lost in the race but what happened actually? Some other player won some other race, so why was I dropped?"

By Salman Anjum - 26 Jul, 2023

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