SA v IND 2018: Shikhar Dhawan talks about India's key to success

Dhawan is looking in good touch in the ongoing ODI series.

Shikhar Dhawan |AFP

Indian cricket team must be pleased seeing Shikhar Dhawan scoring in South Africa. The opener was dismissed cheaply in the first ODI after a miscommunication between him and Virat Kohli. However, it didn't affect his confidence in 2nd ODI, where he scored a half century chasing a low score.

Indian bowling is in prime form, no doubt; but Dhawan thinks there is one more reason India is performing well.

“The key to our success is not losing (too many) wickets early on. Of course the South African fast bowling is very strong, but we are playing them nicely. And once we cross the first 10 overs, the ball gets a bit older and the scoring becomes a bit easier,” Dhawan said at the pre-match presser.

India has managed to holdon to their wickets in the first 10 overs. They have not let the opposition give them early blows. That has made things easier for batsmen coming lower down the order.

Dhawan added that going for runs is important. “You’re playing one-day cricket so you have to score runs. If you defend 50 balls and don’t score, then that’s of no use,” he said.

Saying that he is now better prepared to succeed here as this is his second tour, Dhawan added that the axing from the Test XI didn’t affect him.

“My form was good. Even when I wasn’t playing, I was batting like this. The only thing is when I was not playing I worked harder, made myself fitter – I had time. I knew what I needed to work on and what challenges I could face here, what their bowlers will do to get me out.”

 

 
 

By Sihyeu Singh - 07 Feb, 2018

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