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“This is a fresh start for me”: Shikhar Dhawan
By Shruti - Dec 25, 2019 11:20 am
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Shikhar Dhawan had a painful 2019 where he had fractured finger, swollen neck, bruised eye and gashed knee. However, the India opener is ready to make a “fresh start” in the upcoming series. Dhawan, who will be leading Delhi in their Ranji Trophy game against Hyderabad, has returned after recovering from a knee injury sustained during a game in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which required 25 stitches.

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Shikhar Dhawan smashed a well deserved century in Mohali

“This is a fresh start for me. I was hit on the finger, then on the neck, bruised eye and then stitches on the knee. Good news is New Year is coming. I am happy that KL has done so well. He has grabbed the opportunity. So I am going to go and express myself,” Dhawan told.

“Injuries are natural. You’ve got to accept that. It’s fine and I don’t create a big fuss about it. The start-stop thing doesn’t affect me as I haven’t forgotten how to bat. My class is permanent and I will score runs,” he added.

Shikhar Dhawan said that the Sri Lanka T20 series will be important for him where Rohit Sharma wouldn’t take a part.

“This is an important season. I would like to perform well in the T20s against Sri Lanka but the selection is support staff’s (team management) headache. They will do their job and I will do mine. Looking forward to scoring big runs,” said the left-handed opener.

Read here: ”I Will Try My Best Not to Change”: Pat Cummins

With Rohit and Mayank Agarwal making the Test slots full and Prithvi Shaw is waiting next, where does Dhawan fit in?

“Whether I am in Test team or not is immaterial. I know what game I have. I have scored runs in international cricket as well. I am happy to come back and play Ranji. I have grown from the Ranji level and can’t be better that I am back here and also imparting knowledge to other kids,” shared the opener.

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Shikhar Dhawan

“My goal remains to play all three formats. I am working on that and even now when I passed the fitness test, the first 20 days I couldn’t walk. Then I worked on my fitness. It was a deep cut. So, I always enjoy challenges as I never shy away from them. I never shy away from my failures as well. It’s always a learning experience. And as they say, ‘A learning man is always an earning man’,” Dhawan said.

“If you have played an international series, then you need to give him (a player) rest so that he remains fresh. When you play for India, that’s the priority. We are humans and not machines, so mentally and physically you need to be fresh. An international player knows how much he can stretch his body. There are times you get emotional and may be play for Delhi (or state team) and in turn get injured and India assignment gets hampered,” he added.

However, Shikhar Dhawan is ready to help any interested junior. In fact, one Hyderabad youngster impressed the left-hander and wanted some tips on his batting as well.

“I don’t think like an international star. I am very comfortable over here and I will make sure that we work as a team and I share my expertise and knowledge with them so that they are further groomed. If it benefits a youngster, then why not,” he expressed.

“Critics do their own job and I don’t ever get frustrated by that. If they feel that way, that’s their opinion what can I do. In my heart I know that I have given my best. But if my best wasn’t good enough for it, it’s fine, I accept it,” Shikhar Dhawan concluded.