Veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan lost his place in the Indian ODI team after his below-par showing in the 50-over series against Bangladesh in December 2022.
The left-hander registered three single-digit scores as Bangladesh defeated India 2-1 in the three-match ODI series. In his last 10 ODIs, Dhawan returned with scores of 3, 8, 7, 28, 3, 72, 8, 13, 4 and 40.
In the 50-over format last year, the southpaw amassed 688 runs in 22 innings at an average of 34.40 and a strike rate of 74.21, including six half-centuries.
With young opener Shubman Gill doing exceedingly well, the Indian team management took a tough call of dropping Dhawan from the side in the World Cup year. In fact, Gill repaid the trust of the think tank as he slammed three hundreds, including a double ton in his last six ODI innings.
Speaking to PTI, Shikhar Dhawan on Wednesday (February 15) reflected on the ups and downs of the last three months.
“They (ups and downs) are part of life. With time, with experience you learn how to handle them with ease. I find lot of strength in them. I did my best. If somebody is doing better than my best, that is fine.
“That is why that person is there and I am not there. I am very happy and content wherever I am. I make sure my process goes on strong. Of course there is always a chance of me coming back to the side.
“If it comes it is good, if it doesn’t come that is also good. I have achieved a lot and I am happy with that. Whatever has to come will come. I don’t get desperate about it,” the 37-year-old said.
Dhawan was getting picked only in the Indian ODI squad of late. He played his last Test in 2018, while his last T20I appearance was on the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka in 2021.
For now, Shikhar is focusing on the upcoming IPL in which he will be leading Punjab Kings for the first time.
“My IPL preparation is going on well. I was in Bangalore for 10 days. The focus was on fitness. With the IPL coming up, I will join the camp in Mohali from 24 February and then we regroup again later on and get going.
“I am in a very good state of mind and looking forward to leading from the front,” he said.
(With PTI Inputs)
