The three-match ODI series between India and South Africa commenced on January 19 and the hosts managed to win the opener by 31 runs. South Africa scored 296/4 batting first as Temba Bavuma and Rassie van der Dussen scored brilliant centuries. The hosts then restricted the opposition on 265/8 and suffered a loss by 31 runs. Shikhar Dhawan was the highest run-getter for the team with a knock of 79 runs. Virat Kohli also scored a half-century but the team lost the contest.
Former Indian opener, Gautam Gambhir reckons that Dhawan’s future in Indian cricket has been hanging by a thread for quite a long time. Dhawan has already lost his place in the Test and T20 Squad. The southpaw has amassed 6184 runs from 146 ODIs at an average of 45.81. Gambhir feels that the ODI series against South Africa will help Shikhar to cement his place in the squad.
ALSO READ: India Gets Dropped To The 3rd Spot In The ICC Test Rankings
In his column for Times of India, Gautam Gambhir said, “It is a grand opportunity for him in South Africa. His critics are saying that at 36, Indian cricket should look beyond Shikhar. My worry is lack of runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. I hope he can put it all behind him and put his best foot forward. There is a school of thought… a belief that Shikhar should not be played in the final eleven. I think that will be a disaster. It will make no sense at all.”
Gautam Gambhir further added that it will be great if he can translate his social media skills into some stunning form with his bat.
Elaborating the same, Gautam Gambhir said, “Shikhar Dhawan is a sensation on social media. He has close to 10 million followers on Instagram alone, which is almost ten times more than the population of Gurugram where he now lives. I’d recommend that there is something for everyone on his Insta handle. There are fitness videos, dancing videos with his mother, dubsmash videos and there is also a video where Shikhar is playing the flute with perhaps his Guru.”
ALSO READ: KL Rahul Gives A Befitting Reply To The Reporter Pointing Out His Captaincy Records
He concluded “Trust me, it’s an absolute delight, all notes are in proper place just like a perfectly struck left-hander’s cover drive with the bat finishing on his right shoulder. How good it will be to see him translate his social media form on the playing field.”
