Team India’s stand-in captain Shikhar Dhawan currently plays only one format for India, which is ODI cricket. However, he shared how he wants to play a crucial role for the Indian team in next year’s ODI World Cup at home. For this, he feels that playing just one format at the international level is helping him a lot and prepare better between the two series as well. He also opened up about how he ensures there is no rustiness with the race for places is tough at the moment.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the first ODI between India and New Zealand on Friday, Shikhar Dhawan said: “I get more off time and am able to stay fresher and stronger. When I was playing all the formats, it was a lot of cricket. I make sure that I keep myself in that groove. When I enter the team, I make sure that I keep up with the pace of the team, otherwise, I will be left behind. They have been a good side, a consistent one. They have got a great pace attack and we look forward to taking that challenge in these conditions and batting well. Boys did well in T20Is and we want to carry that momentum in ODIs.”

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However, the competition for places in the Indian white-ball team has become a lot tougher nowadays. Moreover, getting chances regularly has also become a rare thing and a few failures could see them replaced as well.

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“It is great for the team, because it has so many great players. Communication on part of coach and captain is the key in such a situation. Players get clarity that why they are not being played. When such transparency is there, players understand that this is all for a bigger interest, the interest of the team,” Shikhar Dhawan concluded.