rkt.india Posted October 3, 2012 Posted October 3, 2012 Shikhar Dhawan has been in good form right since the summer, when the IPL started. He was selected for the India A tour to West Indies, but flopped miserably registering a flurry of single digit scores. However, he has started the Indian domestic season with a string of big knocks, first in the Moin-ud-Dowlah series for Delhi and later, for India A in the Challenger Trophy. Gokul and Srivathsa spoke to Dhawan during the Moin-ud-Dowlah cup about his past, present and future. You shot into prominence during the U-19 World Cup in Bangladesh in 2003 where you were named player of the tournament. Can you shed some light on that experience? The Under 19 World Cup was the biggest change in my life, to be named the Man of the tournament. I still hold the record there of making three centuries and the highest run-getter of the tournament. It was the best thing to happen in my life. From that, my life took a big turn and I got selected for the Ranji Trophy. Delhi Ranji side is one of the biggest sides in India and it's tough to get into that side as well. After that tremendous performance in the U-19 World Cup, you have been a regular part of the Delhi Ranji side. How has the experience been playing alongside big names? It has been a great pleasure to play with them (Gambhir and Sehwag). I have learnt a lot of things from them, in fact every senior. I love taking the good things from everyone. I never have one particular idol. I always look up to every one in the team. Everyone has their own speciality. If it suits me, I always pick it up. I learnt lots of things from them - like the way they stay positive and the way they control the game. Once you spend a lot of time playing for one side, you mature and you learn about the game more. Now, I am a senior member of my team now, so I like to lead my team and show the boys how to take up responsibility. What qualities do you seek or learn from a Gambhir who is also a left-hander like you? What I have learnt from him is his attitude towards the game. He is a big fighter. He never gives up and he always puts a price on his wicket. That is one of his biggest strengths and that is what I would like in my game. I have been working hard on it and I want to make it count at the biggest level. Does he give you any tips on your batting? We have always discussed about our batting. If he feels if there is something wrong (with my batting) or if I feel that there might be some problem with his, we always share our opinions with each other. You have been one of the pillars of the Delhi Ranji side and you played a vital role in them winning the Ranji Trophy in 2007-08? How was the entire experience? In the 2007-08 season we had a lot of positive vibes in the dressing room. We were a very happy side and enjoyed our game. That is how it should be. In that year, everyone was performing well and were playing their role. Especially Gautam Gambhir, he led from the front and showed his character, performing in every game and scoring big hundreds. It was because of him that we were able to lift the Ranji Trophy after 16 years. This is what we would like to do in the upcoming season as well. Playing for Deccan Chargers, you shared the dressing room with one of the best fast bowlers in the world in Dale Steyn. How was the experience? Of course, it was a great experience sharing the dressing room with Steyn and the other players as well. It is a great feeling. He is one of the best bowlers in the world and of course one of the fastest as well. He is a very good human being and we get along very well. How was it facing Dale Steyn in the nets? Did he give you any tips? You are always on the toes when you are playing him, even in the nets. He didn't exactly give me tips but when we were playing in the nets we used to test each other. Once when he was bowling to me, he asked me to go after him and see how I did. He wanted to see what he can plan against me and what I could do against him. With Deccan Chargers, you have played under two captains - Kumar Sangakkara and Cameron White. How different were they as captains? Sangakkara and White are both different captains. They have their own methods. One thing common with them is that they read the game well and make changes accordingly. One main difference between them is that Cameron White sets up different fields - ones which you hardly see other captains using. Kumar Sangakara is also a left hander and one of the best in the game. Have you picked up any tips from him? He is one of the greatest left handed batsmen. The way he times the ball, not just hard hitting, and the way he plays according to the situation, these are some of the great qualities in him and that is what makes him one of the best in the world. This is also something that I want to incorporate in my game. Your ODI debut was not a dream one as you got out for a second ball duck. What went wrong then? Did the nerves get the better of you? I guess it was just a good ball. It can happen to anyone and on that day it happened to me. Of course failing makes me unhappy but I don't keep thinking about it. I see failures as an opportunity to lift myself up and do better in the next game. I always think positively and performing at the biggest level is always on my mind. Your ODI career did not quite take off. Barring a half-century, you did not have much success and you were left out of the Indian side. How are you working on your game to force you way back into the Indian side? When I see players performing for India, I always feel that I can also be among them. I know that I have it in me. Only one thing can take me back to the Indian side and that is my performance. I want to score really big runs this year, be the highest run getter in all formats and I want to make it happen. Once I do that, I am confident that I can make it back to the Indian side and stay there. In the IPL, you have scored 13 fifties and you also have a great strike rate. You were also the stand out performer for Deccan in the last season. Keeping this in mind were you a little disappointed that you were not included in the Indian squad for the World T20? I was there in the 30 probables and yes I did well for Deccan Chargers in the last season. But it is part and parcel of the game. because other players are doing well too. Of course, when you expect something and it does not happen you will be disappointed. But I knew it was a maybe thing (chances of getting selected). My main goal now is to score heavily in the domestic season and force my way back into the Indian team. About the Delhi team, your side was successful in the Ranji Trophy in 2008 and you made it to the semis in 2009. But the last two years has not been great for Delhi. You failed to make it to the quarter-finals as well. What went wrong and how are you planning on improving on it this season? Sometimes our batting did not click and sometimes our bowling let us down, that is the biggest reason (for Delhi's poor performance). If you have to win a game, both things (batting and bowling) must click together. This year, we have a very good side and we are practicing very hard. It is the responsibility of the coach and seniors to tell the players what their roles are and make them comfortable with that. That is what were are doing and I am very positive that Delhi will perform well this year in every format. We have very good talent in the side and we want it to count. Looking ahead to the Ranji season, what are your personal goals and how do you plan on achieving them? My personal goal is to score at least 800 to 1000 runs this year. I want to just come up with big knocks. For that, I have been working on my game, I am building confidence in myself. I feel will-power is more important than skills. My goal is to stay at the wicket for my team as long as I can. Because once I am there, runs will come which will help my team go a long way. Coming to the fitness aspect, how do you keep yourself fit. What does your regime involve? We keep it pretty balanced. I have been to the NCA (National Cricket Academy) a lot of times and I have learnt a lot from there. They have very good trainers and physio therapists there. They tell us how to keep ourselves fit. And whenever new fitness improving methods come up, we are constantly updated about it. I do my weights as well as cardio - I keep it balanced. That is what keeps me fit. When participating in domestic tournaments organized by State Associations (like Shafi Darashah, Buchi Babu and Moin-ud-Dowlah), what is your main focus on? We guys are playing this tournament as a build up to the Ranji Trophy. Our main aim is to stay at the wicket. Whoever it is, from 1 to 10, our aim is to stay at the wicket as long as we can. A match is always a match. It is the same case in this tournament. Once you get used to performing well in matches, you get more confidence. That is what we are doing here. We are giving the players a lot of exposure and when we go back we will play some practice matches too. We make sure that are players do the right things even in the practice matches, which will take them a long way in their career. Your recent performances show that you are very hungry for runs. In the Moin-ud-dowlah match Goa who were playing fine strokes and you looked like staying till the end. Once you got out, you were very angry with yourself. That is right. I am very hungry for runs. I want to prove myself. I feel I have it in me to become a capable international player and I know I have it in me to be successful. For that to happen, I have to perform here, be it Moin-ud Dowlah, Ranji Trophy or any game. I just want to perform. (In the match against Goa) I had a goal to finish the game. I might have failed in that but that is a part of the process. Sometimes I will achieve my goals and sometimes I might fail. I always analyse what I am doing. If I am failing too much, I will always work on changing that ratio into more success. What do you think of the recent changes in the Ranji Trophy rules? It is a very good thing. The mentality of the players will change now. It is no longer about first innings lead. We have to play to win the game. This will help in grooming the players for Test cricket. You have seen quality batsmen emerging from the Delhi side. Players like Sehwag, Gambhir and Kohli have made it big while Unmukt Chand has shown a lot of promise. How is Delhi able to produce batsmen of such quality? I guess our local cricket is very good. It all depends on how much hard work you put in. Our journey starts very early. I started when I was 12. Another thing is that the players from the northern parts of India as generally aggressive and that reflects on their game. http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/52784/i-want-to-score-big-this-season:-shikhar-dhawan/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=news&utm_campaign=gadget
rkt.india Posted October 3, 2012 Author Posted October 3, 2012 You shot into prominence during the U-19 World Cup in Bangladesh in 2003 where you were named player of the tournament. Can you shed some light on that experience? It was 2004, not 2003.
Number Posted October 3, 2012 Posted October 3, 2012 Though easier said than done, but he looks determined. Lets see how well he does this year.
Lord Posted October 3, 2012 Posted October 3, 2012 he played well in IPL this year,should be in reckoning for T20s,if not ODIs
Crookbond Posted October 3, 2012 Posted October 3, 2012 Currently, lacks the required skill for international standards. He's the Indian version of Phil Jacques.
Lord Posted October 3, 2012 Posted October 3, 2012 ^ hmmm ,.Jacques did pretty well in few tests he got. anyway Shikhars got more shots I think
Crookbond Posted October 3, 2012 Posted October 3, 2012 It does not matter what you have in your kitty - you need to execute it on the field. Dhawan will fall short of an international player unless he changes himself up soon.
rkt.india Posted October 3, 2012 Author Posted October 3, 2012 It does not matter what you have in your kitty - you need to execute it on the field. Dhawan will fall short of an international player unless he changes himself up soon. what kind of change?
Crookbond Posted October 3, 2012 Posted October 3, 2012 Dhawan is susceptible to fast bowling - particularly short balls in pitches which have a little bit in them.
rkt.india Posted October 3, 2012 Author Posted October 3, 2012 Dhawan is susceptible to fast bowling - particularly short balls in pitches which have a little bit in them. Most Indian batsmen are.
Crookbond Posted October 3, 2012 Posted October 3, 2012 True that - another point is if he peaks at the right time he might get a look into the opening slot, at least for T20s where Gambhir/Sehwag are giving in chances. How is Dhawan against spin though? I am unsure on that part too.
rkt.india Posted October 3, 2012 Author Posted October 3, 2012 I think he too is not a great T20 play. He did have a good IPL season but IMHO that was a one-off. He can be a decent ODI batsman though.
Crookbond Posted October 3, 2012 Posted October 3, 2012 Does he have a high tendency to play towards the leg side? He squandered away a golden opportunity he had during the West Indies 2011 tour to cement his fringe player status. 1 x 50 in four innings against not-so-good WI side.
rkt.india Posted October 3, 2012 Author Posted October 3, 2012 He has better off side game than leg side.
MCcricket Posted October 5, 2012 Posted October 5, 2012 This guy has been a bit of a mystery to me, always score big runs, can play all round the wicket, has power and touch, not as bad at playing fast bowlers compared to Tiwary, also fit , he needs to score big and make a comeback.although more then anyone else , I want to see Rohit, Pujara, Murali, Saha given a long run, especially in test as they seem to be above the rest as far as talent is concerned.
CG Posted October 5, 2012 Posted October 5, 2012 Dhawan is susceptible to fast bowling - particularly short balls in pitches which have a little bit in them. Actually he is one of the better players of short ball in domestic cricket and pulls well.
Trundler27 Posted October 15, 2012 Posted October 15, 2012 Bump .... This guy is getting scary scores in domestic cricket this season just like manoj tiwary got a few years back when he averaged 96 or so. Tbh, i didn't like his temperament from what i saw of his batting in international games but with these type of scores I'm almost certain that he will make a comeback sometime this season.... Not sure what to make of his tailunt.... Any thoughts?
MCcricket Posted October 15, 2012 Posted October 15, 2012 Dhawan will surely get a chance this season that is if Dhoni does not bench him entire season, he is a decent player who dominates and believes in himself in domestic circle, that is what he lacks in the international stage, so playing more serious cricket and he can succeed, he has the game , shots, defense and also is a left hander, he can drive cut and pull, what he lacked was consistency which he has showed last couple seasons.
GautiMaan Posted October 15, 2012 Posted October 15, 2012 He was pathetic in whatever ODI's he's played so far,not a glimpse of his domestic form
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