Twitterati not happy with Shikhar Dhawan returning for Trent Bridge Test

There was a lot of talk about the changes Team India needed to make ahead of the third Test at Trent Bridge. As expected, the skipper Virat Kohli has changed the side for the 38th consecutive time in Tests ever since taking over the mantle from MS Dhoni. Shikhar Dhawan has been included at the expense of Murali Vijay who bagged a pair at Lord’s even as Rishabh Pant made his Test debut and Jasprit Bumrah returned straightaway.

Dhawan coming back after being dropped for the second Test has raised more questions. The experts were not in favour of him not playing at Lord’s but they backed Vijay and KL Rahul to continue at Trent Bridge as the conditions were too tough in the second Test and any batsman would’ve struggled. The constant chopping and changing of the team has come under the scanner and may believe that Kohli is not a good Test captain.

Can Dhawan turn things around?

Shikhar Dhawan has a history of performing extremely well in the next game after being dropped midway through the series. He did in in New Zealand and the visitors will be hoping for him to do the same in Nottingham and win the Test match for his country. Though it remains to be seen if he is confident enough to take on James Anderson and Co. in the windy conditions at Trent Bridge.

He failed to convert starts at Edgbaston and while batting first, he will have to play out the new ball along with Rahul to give the middle-order a little bit of a cushion. Kohli, however, was also happy to bat first and believed that putting runs on the board is most important in such a pressure game. But his batsmen need to support his comments and put up a good show in the first innings.

Twitter, meanwhile, was not at all impressed with Dhawan coming back and they lashed out at the team management for the same. They seemed to have resigned to the fate of losing the first wicket early and this is the perfect time for the flamboyant left-hander to make a statement.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Perfect pitch for Dhawan, make runs ffs @SDhawan25#ENGvIND

— Suresh (@sureshpentyalac) August 18, 2018

It will be a disaster if KL Rahul comes out to open with Shikhar Dhawan. Haven't seen this duo putting on a decent partnership as of now.

— Jessy Rajkumari (@imJR_4) August 18, 2018

I don't understand this obsession with Shikhar Dhawan. To drop Murali Vijay for a useless Dhawan just contradicts all logic. #INDvENG

— Srinivas Duvvuri (@s_duvvuri) August 18, 2018

#cbhaveyoursay
What is it with Shikhar Dhawan that Kohli always finds a place for him in the XI..
Rohit will prove to be a far better opener than Shikhar in Tests as well, overseas as well as in Asia

— Miran Reshi (@miranreshi) August 18, 2018

@SDhawan25 will be the key man for India in this test being left handed. #EngvInd #INDvENG

— Roadside Faqir (@Faqiri_Ilm) August 18, 2018

#INDvsENG atrocious selection again…one out-of-form batsman @SDhawan25 replacing a struggling @mvj888 . @imVkohli pandora's box selection method continues, to hell with continuity…

— soumitra bose (@soumitra65) August 18, 2018

Kl Rahul Should be out 😢 Anyways we are so happy Gabbar Shikhar Dhawan is back

— Arshi Khan My Goddess (@DevoteeOfArshi) August 18, 2018

How does @SDhawan25 get a place in a Test team in away tests with this record (in SA, AUS, NZ, ENG)?#ENGvIND #INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/UVSrkNYe1k

— Pranjal Raj (@PranjalRaj2) August 18, 2018

Gavaskar seems to have more confidence in @SDhawan25 as a test opener rather than the latter! Talking of bias in @BCCI selection if he wasn’t selected for this test match! #ENGvIND

— Ayan Chakraborty (@ayanc_99) August 18, 2018

Shikhar Dhawan picked, then dropped, then picked again. That's absurd to be churned about like that as an opening batsman in tough conditions.

The management need to be pilloried for these decisions.#ENGvIND

— Radio Cricket (@RadioCricket) August 18, 2018

If Shikhar Dhawan has to play he should take the place of KL Rahul because dropping Rahul can have a good Effect in his future performances.Thoughts @cricketaakash Sir? #EngvInd #ENGvIND

— Harshit Handa (@HarshitHanda78) August 18, 2018

Actually we don't have any options in the top order.. It's like who comes as Worse..Very Bad, Bad!!

In this Match MVijay got the worse place.. Next 2places gone to KLRahul and Shikhar Dhawan..#ENGvsIND

— பிரேம்!!! (@Premkumar_R) August 18, 2018

Today @SDhawan25 should be played instead of @mvj888 @SDhawan25 had got only a single chance and also a left handed batsman @_rrroy_

— Pratyush Patra (@PratyushPatra19) August 18, 2018

Should rishabh pant open along with shikhar dhawan ? #CBHaveYourSay @_rrroy_

— Swaraj Panchal (@SwarajPanchal5) August 18, 2018

Keep following CricTracker for more news and updates.