World Cup 2019: Virender Sehwag lauds Shikhar Dhawan for doing job for his team; wishes Rishabh Pant luck

It’s official now. Ace India opener Shikhar Dhawan has been officially ruled out of the ICC World Cup 2019 owing to his thumb injury and he has been replaced with Rishabh Pant. Dhawan, who was hit during his century knock against Australia at the Oval, remained with the squad for his recovery was being monitored but according to a press release issued by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the batsman will get fit only by mid-July. The decision was taken following consultation with a number of specialists.

The 33-year-old dashing southpaw, who has been India’s highest scorer in the last five ODI tournaments that featured five or more teams, hit a match-winning 117 at the Oval. He was hit by a delivery from pacer Pat Cummins and did not field in that game. The injury was found out to be a fracture later. On Wednesday, a dejected Dhawan also posted a video on Instagram in which he thanked the fans for praying for his recovery and said he was returning home to get well fast for the next assignment. Dhawan had scored two centuries in the 2015 World Cup and has three tons in 10 games.

‘Dhawan did his job before departing’

Former India opener Virender Sehwag was also disappointed, like million other Indian fans, with Dhawan’s shocking exit from the mega tournament. He was being looked up to as one of India’s trump cards in the tournament and was just one century short of equalling Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly for having the most number of three-figure scores in ICC events.

Shikhar , jaane se pehle zaroori kaam kar gaye. Australia ko haraane mein shaandaar shatak. Rishabh ko shubhkaambaayein, mauka mile toh poora faayda uthana !

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) June 19, 2019

In a tweet written in Hindi, Sehwag said his successor has done his job before exiting the tournament and it was about racking up a century against Australia. He also wished Pant best luck and advised him to make full use of the opportunity whenever it comes. Pant made an impressive international debut in England in a Test series last year and picked up his maiden century in the last match at the Oval. He has made a meteoric rise in the longer format but is yet to play enough ODIs.