The powerplay overs in a T20 game is certainly the most crucial phase for the batting team and with the T20 World Cup is around the corner, India opener Shikhar Dhawan is very clear that for him it will be all about attacking from the outset.
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In an exclusive interview with IANS, Dhawan said he doesn't really have any special plan for the showpiece event in Australia as he wants to keep things simple and provide a perfect platform for middle-order by providing brisk start.
"The plan is to play a nice attacking game as an opener in the first six overs and build a good total. I like to play aggressive and if some wicket is slow or if the ball is stopping on it, then obviously the plan changes accordingly. If we can manage to get say 50-55 runs in the first six overs, then the momentum is there for a good finish. My job will be to primarily start well and then score big. Smart and attacking game is my mantra for the T20 format," he stated.
Asked if it will be about one between him and Rohit Sharma playing anchor as the other attacks, Dhawan replied: "Play as per the situation. If some day Rohit is attacking and I am not being able to connect well, then that is different. But otherwise, I don't believe that only one batsman can attack. If your game is to attack, then you must stay natural. Also, when you attack from both sides then the pressure is on the opposition."
Rishabh Pant had a tough time in the recently held T20I series against Bangladesh. His lack of judgement while going for the Decision Review System (DRS) calls was a major factor behind India’s seven-wicket defeat in the first game in Delhi.
Moreover, the 22-year-old grabbed the headlines in the second T20I at Rajkot by collecting the ball in front of the stumps, thereby missing Liton Das' stumping. In the decider at Nagpur, Rishabh perished while attempting a slog and he finished the series with 33 runs to his name.
Subsequently, Pant faced the wrath of the fans with many calling for him to be axed from the squad. But Dhawan believes his Delhi teammate shouldn’t pay attention to such comments and focus on the job at hand.
"I keep telling him that don't see what is being said or written about you in the media. See, the point is that whatever you see or read will come into your mind. I don't read any newspaper. I have trained myself that way because I know that if I have done well, they will write good things and if I don't, they will write that. It is a journey. When I started, I also saw, but that is how you learn. Rishabh is a great talent and he will do really well in the long run," he said.
While Indian teams over the years have been all about its batsmen, the current side has some of the best bowlers at disposal.
"It is a matter of tremendous pride that we have a team of bowlers who actually put the opposition batsmen on the backfoot. I feel the bowling line-up is one of the major reasons that we are winning consistently and also along with the pace bowling attack, we also have the experience to adapt. They train as professionals and know their job very well," the southpaw remarked.
He also believes that Team India will be one of the favourites to win the T20 World Cup next year.
"We are strong contenders. From now onwards we will play so many T20s that we will get refined and be ready for the T20 World Cup. I am sure that we will do really well there," Dhawan concluded.
