Shikhar Dhawan optimistic for T20I selection if he performs well in the IPL 2022: Veteran batter Shikhar Dhawan has gone out of the scheme of things in the Indian cricket of late as far as his T20I spot is concerned. The 36-years old cricketer, despite, scoring a lot of runs in the IPL 2021, wasn’t considered for the selection in the Indian T20I side.
He traced his way back a little when he was named India’s T20I skipper with a second-string side against Sri Lanka, last year, but his disappointing show with the bat silenced all the noise.
As of now, the Indian selectors are nowhere looking at Shikhar Dhawan in the T20I side for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. However, the southpaw reckons a good IPL season with the bat can bring him back to the Indian T20I squad.
Dhawan, in his recent interview with the Times of India, said that he is a process-driven person and doesn’t really set goals.
“The T20 World Cup is coming. I know that if I do well in the IPL, I can get into the side. I am a very process-driven person. I don’t set goals. Till the time, I am enjoying my game, it works best for me. And I’m in that space right now. So, I’m making sure my process is very strong, and I automatically achieve all that I need to. Maybe I will, maybe I won’t (making World Cup squad) – time will tell. But I won’t allow any of that to affect my state of mind,” he said in an interview with Times of India.
The Southpaw further said that he is pretty happy to be at Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the IPL. The bond with the fans and the team is already there as he is a Punjabi.
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Dhawan was released by the Capitals (DC) ahead of the Tata IPL 2022 mega auction, despite scoring over 618 and 587 runs for the team in his last two IPL editions. He was subsequently roped in by Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the auction for INR 8.25 Crores.
“I am happy to be part of Punjab Kings. I am a Punjabi boy, so of course, the connection is already strong. Like Delhi, Punjab is also home. From childhood, I have been fond of Punjabi songs. Being from a Punjabi family, I also speak the language. I believe the connection with the fans is already there. At the same time, it’s a good opportunity for both me and the team to make a strong statement in the IPL. We have a balanced team. We are going to have a great season,” he said.
Because Shikhar Dhawan is only picked in the ODI’s, he has been demoted from the BCCI’s central contract list. Earlier, he was in Grade B, but now he has slipped down to the C category, which will fetch him INR 1 Crore annually from the Indian cricket board.
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