Over the years, three doyens of Indian cricket in the form of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shikhar Dhawan have been the backbone of the batting department of India. They have scored runs consistently and saved the team from the blush on a number of occasions.
While Kohli and Sharma regularly hog the limelight, Dhawan has always remained in the shadows. An orthodox southpaw opener who has been a constant in India’s tournaments on the international stage up until 2021, Shikhar Dhawan has been a silent performer.
Now with the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 on the cards and a few youngsters already proving their mark, it seems like the doors for the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 for veteran batter Shikhar Dhawan are shut completely.
In this article, we take a look at 3 reasons why Shikhar Dhawan might not be included in India’s squad for the ICC ODI World Cup 2023:
1. Presence of youngsters like Gill and Kishan
The likes of Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan have grabbed onto their opportunities with both hands and have impressed everyone. Both the youngsters recently smashed their double centuries and have been in red-hot form.
Shubman Gill in particular seems to have cemented his play in the Indian ODI team as the first-choice opener alongside skipper Rohit Sharma. The 23-year-old cricketer from Punjab averages 73.8 in ODIs.
2. Shikhar Dhawan’s strike-rate problems
One of the main reasons why Shikhar Dhawan was dropped from the Indian T20I team initially was his issue with the strike rate. Even though the 37-year-old cricketer is a dependable batter, his strike rate is considerably low.
With India adopting a new aggressive style of play while batting, Dhawan slips down in the pecking order. The cricketer from New Delhi has a strike rate of 91.3 in ODIs.
3. Selectors keeping an eye on the future
One of the major drawbacks for Dhawan is his age. His age is now on his side and this might be one of the main reasons why Shikhar Dhawan isn’t selected for India’s squad in the upcoming ICC ODI World Cup 2023.
The selection panel of the Board Of Control For Cricket In India (BCCI) might keep an eye on the future and take some tough calls regarding senior players.
Also read: IND vs AUS: 3 Reasons Why David Warner Shouldn’t Be Included In Australia’s Side For The 2nd Test
