Shikhar Dhawan Team India Selection Story: Former Indian cricket team opener Shikhar Dhawan has made many records in his illustrious career. Known as ‘Gabbar’ of Indian cricket, this legend touched the heights in his career thanks to the foresight and bold decisions of Sandeep Patil and Dilip Vengsarkar. When both of them were selectors of Team India, they gave Dhawan a chance at the right time, without which Shikhar Dhawan’s career could have ended before it even started.
Shikhar Dhawan got a place in the team in place of Sehwag
In 2013, when the Test series was going on between India and Australia, Team India’s legendary batsman Virender Sehwag was out of form. In such a situation, the question before the team management was who would replace Sehwag? During this time, Sandeep Patil put forward the name of Shikhar Dhawan.
Talking about this decision, Sandeep Patil told TOI, “A young cricketer should be supported when he is in form. It is very important to get the right opportunity at the right time. At that time, Shikhar had scored a double century and a century for India A on the South Africa tour. Although all my four co-selectors opposed my decision, in the end Shikhar proved that my decision was right. He proved me right and scored a century on Test debut.”
Shikhar Dhawan scored a century in the first test match
In March 2013, it was decided to include Shikhar Dhawan in the team for the third Test match played against Australia in Mohali. Dhawan took full advantage of this opportunity and played a stormy innings of 187 runs in 174 balls. In this innings, Dhawan completed his century in 85 balls, which is the record for the fastest century on Test debut.
Shikhar Dhawan’s career was saved earlier also because of Dilip Vengsarkar
Shikhar Dhawan’s career was saved by Dilip Vengsarkar at another crucial juncture. Dhawan was dropped from the Indian team for the 2004 Under-19 World Cup. At that time Vengsarkar was the chairman of the Talent Research Development Wing (TRDW) of the BCCI. He convinced the selectors that Shikhar Dhawan was a great player, even though he did not perform well in the trial matches held in Mumbai. After this support from Vengsarkar, Dhawan was included in the team and he proved himself by scoring the most runs in the tournament.
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