‘He has to prove himself as a captain’ – Former Indian player opens up on Shikhar Dhawan’s mindset on being dropped from Indian team
Punjab Kings captain Shikhar Dhawan, who has been in and out of the Indian team over the past two years, scored the game-winning 86 runs off 56 deliveries on Wednesday as his team defeated Rajasthan Royals by five runs in an IPL 2022 match.
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes Dhawan has something to prove this season in the Indian Premier League. Irfan said ahead of the PBKS-RR match that Dhawan’s form will be crucial not only for the team but also for the player’s own confidence.
“Shikhar Dhawan is a senior player in IPL and has been very consistent with the bat too. He’s a very powerful player who possesses a very strong mind. He has to prove himself as a captain this year and for that his batting is essential. Being in and out of the Indian team must have bothered him and that’s why he would like to prove that he is still the real Gabbar of Indian cricket,” Irfan said on Star Sports ahead of the match between Punjab and Rajasthan.
PBKS defeats RR by 5 runs
In the match, PBKS posted 197-4 after being invited to bat first in Guwahati, riding on the left-handed Dhawan’s mind-blowing knock and his 90-run opening stand with Prabhsimran Singh, who hit 60. Ellis, an up-and-coming pace bowler from Australia, then shone in his second game of his IPL debut season, returning 4-30 and limiting Rajasthan to 192-7.
Shimron Hetmyer (36) and impact player Dhruv Jurel (32 not out) put on a dangerous 61-ball stand to raise hopes of a comeback. However, the asking rate proved too much for Hetmyer, who was run out in the final over, which began with Rajasthan needing 16, sealing the deal for Punjab with Sam Curran remaining calm in the 20th over.
The Men in Red and Gold will play their next game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on the 9th of April at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. They will look to continue their winning momentum this season.
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