Shikhar Dhawan: Anticipated to take charge of the alternate Indian squad at the forthcoming Asian Games in China, Shikhar Dhawan’s leadership seemed imminent. Fans believed the same as the primary team’s dedicated focus on readying themselves for the eminent Cricket World Cup. However, surprising both fans and Shikhar Dhawan himself, the selection committee unveiled an unexpected twist. Astonishingly, Dhawan found himself excluded not only from the core roster but also from the backup players’ list. Stepping into the limelight instead was 26-year-old Ruturaj Gaikwad, entrusted with the captain’s responsibilities, a decision that left cricket enthusiasts and Dhawan himself taken aback.
Shikhar Dhawan speaks on exclusion from squad
Having previously shouldered the responsibility of leading India, especially in instances when prominent figures such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were unavailable, Dhawan was naturally perceived as the likely leader once again. However, the seasoned left-handed player has at last addressed the topic of his unexpected omission from the team, breaking his silence on the matter.
Speaking to PTI, he said, ”When my name was not there (Asian Games), I was a bit shocked. But, then, I was like, they have a different thought process, you just have to accept it.” He said that he was pleased that Ruturaj Gaikwad would be the side’s leader. Dhawan said that the team is made up mostly of young lads, and he is confident they will succeed.
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When Dhawan was captain of a similar Indian second team in Sri Lanka in 2021, the two had previously shared the Indian team’s dressing room. In the same series, Gaikwad also made his India debut under Shikhar Dhawan. The batsman said that in addition to the two domestic white ball competitions, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he plays for Delhi, he is also hard at work getting ready for the 2024 IPL.
Since the Bangladesh series in December 2022, the PBKS captain hasn’t been a member of the Indian squad. He joined the Indian squad permanently after his 2010 debut, opening the innings with Rohit Sharma.
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