VVS Laxman omits Shikhar Dhawan: Former Indian batsman sees no place for the current opening batsman in the shortest format.
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There is this logical thing about ICC tournaments which treats all the pre-tournament series as a mode of preparation for the showpiece event.
With a looming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia, all matches played in the shortest format are being done to fine-tune the combinations with respect to playing down under in October-November.
As far as the Indian team is concerned, one of their biggest conundrums at this point in time is deciding the second opening batsman. With vice-captain Rohit Sharma set to be the first-choice opener, one out of Lokesh Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan is likely to accompany him.
Considering a significant dip in Dhawan’s T20I strike rate in the last year or so and how well Rahul is accepting the opportunities given to him, one feels that the latter has the lead in the race.
VVS Laxman omits Shikhar Dhawan
Speaking during a pre-match show at Star Sports, former India batsman VVS Laxman shared his team for the upcoming World Cup. While Laxman didn’t make many changes to the current team, him dropping Dhawan from the 15-man squad came as an inspired decision.
If Shikhar Dhawan cannot score at a fast rate against this Lankan side, he’ll never be able to score runs quickly and Team India needs an explosive opening pair for the T20 WC.
Shikhar should be no where near the scheme of things. Is that right? #StarAiKelungal @StarSportsTamil
— Vinod Ramnath (@NaanumEngineer) January 7, 2020
Currently playing the T20I series against Sri Lanka at home, it seems that Dhawan has limited opportunities left up his sleeve.
Among the other changes which Laxman made to the squad was in the bowling department especially the pacers. All-rounder Washington Sundar also didn’t find a place in Laxman’s squad for the World Cup.
VVS Laxman’s Indian squad for T20 World Cup 2020 – Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Manish Pandey, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
