There is no better opener than Shikhar Dhawan in limited-overs format: Harbhajan Singh

Team India is gearing up for the second T20 International against South Africa in Mohali on Wednesday. The series opener was washed out due to rain and both the teams will be hoping to get things underway in this encounter. The hosts too would be keen on building the team looking at the T20 World Cup next year and the opener Shikhar Dhawan will be under the scanner.

His T20I record this year has been dismal, to say the least. Even in the series against the West Indies, the southpaw couldn’t do much and with KL Rahul breathing down his neck, the time is definitely running out for Dhawan. However, Harbhajan Singh feels the left-hander is one of the best openers for India in the limited-overs format and is confident that he will come good soon.

He also went on to say that Dhawan’s contribution with the bat is as important as the team’s captain and vice-captain. “Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma are some of the finest batsmen that India has seen and have proven to be one of India’s best opening pairs. Shikhar Dhawan’s contribution to the game is as important as that of Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli,” Harbhajan was quoted as saying by Times Now.

He will be unstoppable

Shikhar Dhawan has been one of the consistent performers for India in the ODIs and if not for his injury after the Australia game in the World Cup, he would’ve been definitely one of the highest run-getters. But when it comes to the shortest format, the 33-year-old is struggling. But Bhajji is not worried much about Dhawan’s form and feels that he should work on his fitness more.

“Be it T20 or 50 overs, irrespective of the format, Shikhar is really good. According to me, there is no better opener than Shikhar Dhawan, along with Rohit Sharma, in any format – T20 and 50 overs. If he continues working on his fitness in the coming 2-3 years, I think he will be unstoppable,” the 39-year-old added.

With a lot being said about his form in the T20Is, Shikhar Dhawan himself will be keen to make runs in the South Africa series and shut down all the speculations of him being replaced.

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