Shikhar Dhawan on Short leash; KL Rahul Emerging as Strong Replacement

By: Sandipan Bose

Shikhar Dhawan’s form with the bat is really worrying. What we know is that he had a very ordinary World T20 at home, and was even dropped from the playing XI in the semifinal against the West Indies.

In the last four matches that he has played for the Sunrisers Hyderabad, Dhawan has struggled to keep his form. So much so that the Delhi opener’s place in the Sunrisers Hyderabad team could hang in the balance if he continues to bat this way.

It’s not that Dhawan isn’t trying his best to emerge from the lean patch. When at the crease, he does show glimpses of form while playing his trademark off-side drives.

But then, all of sudden a loose shot from nowhere destroys it all and he is walking back to the pavilion. This has become a common sight.

With India scheduled to play a non-stop series of Test matches, after this year’s IPL both in the West Indies’ and at home, Dhawan returning to form is important for his future Test place.

It’s also true that Dhawan’s T20 form has nothing to do with his Test batting. The two are different formats. Runs are the most important thing… as long as they keep coming you stay in the hunt.

Should runs dry up it’s easy to raise fingers. With Dhawan under the scanner, the contenders have reason to rejoice. KL Rahul is one such candidate, who opens the innings and already has a couple of hundred to his name.

There are also names like Shreyas Iyer who is considered to be the domestic run-machine. Alas, Gautam Gambhir, who is the war-veteran type, is batting with a different attitude and scoring heavily in the IPL.

Now lets wait and watch if Dhawan can put his lackluster form behind him and rise from the ashes like a phoenix, or perish?