‘Kitna positive hai yeh banda’ – Shikhar Dhawan says he would pick Shubman Gill over himself
Life has not been easy for veteran Indian batter Shikhar Dhawan in recent times as he is currently struggling to make his way back into the national team. And the main reason for that is the emergence of a younger crop of players taking the opener’s spot in his favourite format, the ODIs.
The arrival of younger batters such as Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill and Prithvi Shaw among others meant that it was virtually curtains for the 37-year-old, especially after failures in ODIs in Bangladesh and New Zealand in December. Also, with Kishan and Gill scoring double hundreds in the format in recent times, the Indian management seems to put a lot of trust in the duo.
Shubman [Gill] is in form and playing lovely cricket: Dhawan
Dhawan may not be at his supreme best but whether deserves the axe is debatable. He has been one of the most consistent ODI batters for India over the last decade or so. He averages 44.11 in 167 matches, scoring 6,793 runs at a strike rate o 91.35 and with 17 hundreds and 39 fifties.
He has a respectable average of 34.40 in 2022 in the format, which was the first time since 2012, had an average below 35. Despite having the numbers to show for Dhawan, he surprised everybody with his recent statement for being too selfless. He said that if he were the selector, he would select Gill over himself for team India.
“If I were the selector, I would select Shubman Gill over myself. Shubman [Gill] is in form and playing lovely cricket,” said Dhawan to Aaj Tak. While Gill has been promising over the last few months in the white ball circuit, by no means, Dhawan has shown signs of slacking with the bat. Gill has a supreme average of 65.55 in 24 ODIs, scoring 1,311 runs with four hundreds and five fifties. He also has a top score of 208.
Here is how fans reacted to Dhawan on Twitter:
Shikhar Dawan is one who stand for all but unfortunately for him no one stands & advocate for his selection.
Indian fans to Shikhar Dawan be like 🙂 pic.twitter.com/XjOS1i73bS
— Shakti Man 💥 (@IamShaktiMann) March 25, 2023
Dhawan and Rohit have been the most successful consistent opening pair for India but they opted for Rahul and things have crumbled tremendously. I bet if Dhawan was there next to Rohit for t20 world cups we would’ve won atleast one.
— Pluto (@popk8910) March 25, 2023
Not everytime it's a New Zealand player being NICE GUY. We have our nicest guy. ❤ pic.twitter.com/YqK6NVVleT
— DK (@ViratCrazyDK) March 25, 2023
Happy that he isn't the selector, Coz selectors are also doing the same of what he dreams to do… Why wasting Manpower🤧😮💨
— Hustler (@HustlerCSK) March 25, 2023
Most kind-hearted and selfless cricketer. He deserves to be in the Indian team. Hoping for a super strong comeback gabbar.🦁❤️💪🏻
— Aarushi Joshi (@Aarushijoshii) March 25, 2023
https://twitter.com/Baron_Callahan8/status/1639688792776011776
Nice replacement for vadapav Kohli will be captain
— Bholination 🚩 (@saurabhvk263) March 26, 2023
This guy deserves a Sanju Samson level of PR.
— Satwik (@satwiksankalp) March 26, 2023
Ask Rahul the same question, he will reply – I should be played above Rohit/Gill/ kohli / shreyas and Surya
— XiSimping (@PresidentCCP1) March 25, 2023
Plz ask him a question, if you are a selector then from rohit and dhawan, which player you select?@SDhawan25
— King 🇮🇳 (@RJ02_IND) March 25, 2023
