Veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan is getting picked only in the Indian ODI squad lately. He has played his last Test in 2018, while his last T20I appearance was on the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka in 2021.
No wonder, the southpaw is focusing more on the upcoming ODI World Cup in 2023 and his goal is to play as many matches as possible leading up to the showpiece competition at home.
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"My focus is definitely on next year's 50-overs World Cup and for that, I want to play as many matches as possible for India and do well in them. In between, there is the IPL as well, so I will try to continue to perform there and look to play the domestic one-day and T20 matches and keep myself match-fit and ready," Dhawan told TOI.
The 36-year-old has been a proven performer for India in the ICC events and he admitted that he enjoys playing in global tournaments.
"I love playing in ICC tournaments. There is always a different feeling and satisfaction and I have had some very good tournaments in the past. I prepare and approach every tournament exactly the same way," said Dhawan.
"Every time I wear the Indian jersey, pressure is always there and the thing is, as an experienced player, I know how to handle pressure. The buzz definitely helps, because it adds motivation to my game. I do not get over-awed by the moment, because my focus, process, and preparation is the same for any tournament I am playing in," he added.
Recently, Shikhar Dhawan led India to a 3-0 ODI series win over West Indies away from home. He registered scores of 97, 13 and 58 in the three games.
The left-hander was also given the reasonability to lead the 50-over team in the upcoming ODI series against Zimbabwe. However, KL Rahul regained his fitness on time and now Dhawan will play the role of his deputy.
Talking about captaincy, Dhawan said: "Captaining India is always an honour. My approach to captaincy is to be cool and aggressive - aggressive from the inside, and cool on the outside. I want my team to enjoy themselves on the field, but maintain the intensity during the game and to enjoy playing for Team India. I enjoy mentoring the young boys and passing on knowledge and that continues to bring out the leadership qualities in me."
(With ANI inputs)
