After India’s successful outing against the Kiwis in the T20I series, the Men in Blue are gearing up for a three-match ODI series, commencing on November 25. The stand-in skipper for the upcoming assignment Shikhar Dhawan reckoned he has matured a lot and he will not be flinching to make some tough calls for the team.

With several key senior players rested for the New Zealand tour, Shikhar Dhawan has been entrusted with leading the team in ODIs. The southpaw revealed that he is relishing the opportunity to lead the team and is not afraid to take bold calls for the team’s cause.

ALSO READ: Glenn Maxwell Feels BBL Will Not Be Able To Afford Suryakumar Yadav

During a chat with ESPNCricinfo, Shikhar Dhawan said, “As you play more, you get confident in the decisions you take. Earlier, there used to be instances where I would give an extra over to a bowler out of regard (for him). But now, as I have matured, even if someone is feeling bad, I will take a decision that will help the team.”

He further added, “If a bowler gets hit, it’s important to know when to speak to him. I will not do it when they are hot in the head, but instead approach them later and speak with care.”

Shikhar Dhawan also stated that he knows how to maintain the right balance by picking the appropriate time to speak to his players. Dhawan has guided India to series wins against Sri Lanka, South Africa, and West Indies and will be eyeing another triumph against the Blackcaps in the impending series.

ALSO READ: Dinesh Karthik opens up on Shikhar Dhawan’s inclusion in the ODI

Elaborating the same, Shikhar Dhawan said, “When you play music on a string instrument, if the string is too loose, it won’t sound right, or if it’s too tight, it will break. So it is a question of creating a balance. (As a captain) creating that balance is very important. You need to understand when to pull the string tight and when to leave it a bit loose. That is an art. It is a matter of timing. At this stage I also understand when to say things to the players and how much to say.”