Veteran Team India opener Shikhar Dhawan has opened up on India’s batting collapse in the 1st ODI of the three-match series against South Africa in Paarl on Wednesday. The veteran has explained that India are looking to build a team for the 2023 World Cup. Moreover, as per him, this is okay if some results don’t go their way as well.
However, Dhawan scored 79 off 84 in the first ODI but India failed to chase 297 and eventually lost the match by 31 runs. The visitors went from 138 for 1 to 188 for 6 as the middle-order couldn’t score well.
While talking on Team India’s defeat at a virtual press conference, he said: “Our thought process as a unit or as a team is that we are building a team for the 2023 World Cup. There are going to be a few hiccups here and there, which is totally fine. As a team, we analyze how we can get better. I feel that we all now have good clarity that we have got this bunch. We have to refine this.”
He continued: “Rohit is not here. Once he comes back, we will have more experience and the middle order will become stronger. The youngsters who are getting chances here will gain from this experience and get better. If something doesn’t work out in a game, it is okay. We are looking at the bigger picture.”
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Meanwhile, at one stage in the chase, India were in a better position when Dhawan and Virat Kohli (51) were in the middle. But their dismissal broke the shackle and India could never return to the game as well. While reflecting on India’s batting collapse, he shared his views too.
He stated: “We had a good start. I feel the wicket was slow and there was a little bit of turn as well. When you are chasing a total of close to 300, it is not easy for the middle-order to come in start hitting the big shots right away. We lost wickets in a bunch and that impacted us as a batting unit.”
Meanwhile, Shikhar Dhawan has also opined on why debutant Venkatesh Iyer didn’t bowl in the first ODI. He said that the captain KL Rahul relied more on the main bowlers to get breakthroughs as well. However, India’s struggles for a sixth bowling option is still there and it has been troubling the team a lot too.
Dhawan said: “We didn’t need him because the spinners did well and there was some turn in the wicket. Fast bowlers were mostly used at the end. In the middle-overs when the wicket was not falling, our thinking was to bring back the main bowlers to get the breakthrough but we couldn’t do that. Then, in the end, it was important to bring our main bowlers, like our spinners.”
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Unlike India, South Africa used six bowlers, including part-time spinner Aiden Markram, Andile Phehlukwayo. And, he claimed two wickets for 26 in five overs as well. The second ODI will take place at Boland Park in Paarl on Friday, January 21.
Shikhar Dhawan explained: “That you need to play according to the demands of the situation, should always put the team first, that your individual game is important but at the same time practicality and knowing how much you can mold your game for the team [is also important]. Like if the team needs a partnership, then you should build one and those kind of things. And I feel that it will all get refined with time and experience.”
