Harsha Bhogle makes a gloomy prediction for Shikhar Dhawan's Test career

The batting has been a matter of concern for the Indian team in the ongoing Test series against England. Their openers, especially Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan couldn’t perform at the top of the order. While Vijay was dropped after three Tests, the latter held on to his spot. However, Dhawan has flattered to deceive in the entire series having scored 162 runs in four Tests at an average of 20.25.

In the first three matches he played, the left-hander got starts on every other occasion, but unfortunately, he couldn’t convert them. In the current Test at Kennington Oval in London, he managed scores of 3 and 1, much to his agony. India will next play the Windies next month and renowned cricket journalist Harsha Bhogle reckons that he is unlikely to be picked for the series.

He is actually playing for his place

“Dhawan has gone on a few tours but hasn’t performed as per expectations. It was his attitude, the two little cameos he played at Trent Bridge that kept him alive. I’m not sure that he has it in him to come back again because I don’t see him holding his spot for the two Tests against the Windies because India will want to pick the openers they want to see in Australia,” Bhogle was quoted as saying in Cricbuzz.

Later this year, India are scheduled to play four Tests in Australia, starting December 6. Bhogle also talked about the approach Dhawan and KL Rahul employed when they opened the batting after England set a target of 464 for India to chase down. While Dhawan got out early, Rahul went on to score his maiden Test century on English soil.

“Late on the fourth evening, when Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul came out to open the batting for India in a sense that their first target was to play out 18 overs and try and ensure that the game was saved. But also, they were playing for their career, more so with Dhawan. He was actually playing for his place more than Rahul was as the latter has age on his side,” he added.

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