IND v AUS 2020: "Anything for my country," says Shikhar Dhawan on batting at no.3

Dhawan top-scored for India in the first ODI with 74 off 91 balls.

Shikhar Dhawan | AFP

Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan is ready to bat at any number for the team with the middle order issues mounting continuously.

Team India had a forgettable game in Mumbai against Australia as the batting did not click at all and then the bowling added to their woes. Scoring just 255 on a batting wicket, the Indians were left with a lot of questions as their middle order could not get going and the skipper’s self-demotion to No. 4 also failed miserably. Opener Shikhar Dhawan is ready to bat at any number for cementing a strong batting line-up.

IND v AUS 2020: Dhawan rues the loss of four quick wickets in middle overs after Mumbai ODI defeat

Dhawan told the reports after the match, “If they ask me to bat at No.3, of course, I’ll do it. Anything for my country, for sure. You have to be mentally strong, all the boys are mentally strong, that’s why they’ve been playing international cricket and its part of the journey, sometimes you’ve to switch numbers as well.

He also talked about Virat Kohli batting at No. 4 to accommodate the in-form KL Rahul. He suggested that the skipper might re-think the decision and might bat at his favorite No. 3 spot.

See that is a captain’s choice, KL is batting well, he did well in the last series and he played really well and he played well today. I feel it is the captain’s choice where he wants to play and he has done amazing at No. 3, maybe I feel, he will think about it to go at number three again,” he said.

The decision to accommodate both Dhawan and Rahul was probably the only positive for India in the first ODI against Australia. While the left-hander found his form with a mature knock of 74 runs, Rahul fell just 3 runs short of his half-century. Those two were the top-scorers for India at Wankhede.

(Inputs from PTI)

 
 

By Sameer Deodhar - 15 Jan, 2020

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