'He needs just one knock to strike form' - Anshuman Gaekwad backs Shikhar Dhawan to make limited-overs comeback

Former India cricketer Anshuman Gaekwad has backed Shikhar Dhawan to bounce back and regain his place inside the Indian limited-overs team.

Dhawan’s numbers in the Indian Premier League’s 2021 edition give an impressive reading, where he played a crucial role in his team Delhi Capitals’ top-table finish, notching up 587 runs at 39.13, including three half-centuries in 16 matches. Although, a significant portion of his runs had come in the first half of the tournament, as he could amass only 207 runs in eight innings in the UAE leg.

Subsequently, the southpaw failed to make the cut in India’s 2021 T20 World Cup squad, as the selectors preferred Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul for the opening slot, while he was later ignored for the home T20I series against New Zealand, even though a host of first-choice players were rested. Currently active in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Dhawan has scores of 0, 12 and 14 in three games.

However, Gaekwad reckons that Dhawan is just a good knock away from gaining his mojo back. “It all depends on how selectors look at it. I believe form can change but class remains, and batters like Shikhar need just one good innings to strike form. Sometimes, you have a bad patch and it has happened to the best of the players, including Sunil Gavaskar and Mohinder Amarnath. In that phase, no matter what you try, you just don’t get the result,” Gaekwad told Sportstar.

“In such times, it is important for some soul searching. You cannot exactly pinpoint what it is – whether it is mental, technical – and such things happen. You have to hang in there and ensure that one innings comes soon. If need be, take a break and start afresh,” he added.

With a T20 World Cup approaching in less than a year in Australia, followed by a 50-over World Cup scheduled in India, it remains to be seen whether the selectors would look to invest in the 36-year-old Dhawan.

Dhawan might not be in form, but his experience will be crucial in South Africa: Anshuman Gaekwad

India is set to travel to South Africa for three Tests and as many ODIs, with the series starting with the Boxing Day Test in Centurion. Dhawan has long lost his place in the Test setup, but with the ODI squad yet to be named, Gaekwad feels that his experience will come in handy on the South African soil, and hence Dhawan must be given a look-in.

“His massive experience,” Gaekwad said. “Okay, he is not in the best of forms, but then a big match player like him brings that experience in the batting department, which is very crucial in the South African conditions. He could revolve the game around him and also guide the youngster. Just that, he has to back himself and hang in there in those conditions.”