Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar, on Thursday, said that Shikhar Dhawan hasn’t got his due recognition for his ODI exploits. He further added that he is next only to the likes of Sourav Ganguly and Gautam Gambhir when it comes to the impact he has had in 50-overs cricket for India.
Shikhar Dhawan will be leading India in the three-match ODI series against South Africa as team India’s main squad is in Australia for the 20-20 World Cup. Dhawan will be leading a young Indian team with the first game scheduled to get underway in Lucknow.
The southpaw has been dropped from Test and T20I teams but has been a constant in the ODI set-up. He looks all set to make the 2023 ODI World Cup squad. The left-handed batter has made the most of the opportunities that have come his way, keeping him motivated despite being in and out of the team.
“A couple of things, obviously he hasn’t got the accolades that he deserves as an ODI cricketer. If you think of great left-handers who have played for the country, you think of Sourav Ganguly at the top, Gautam Gambhir and who next? The kind of consistency that he has in this format is absolutely phenomenal,” Sanjay Bangar told Star Sports.
Dhawan has 6647 runs to his name in 158 matches at an average of 45, hitting 17 hundreds and 38 fifties. In 2022, the 35-year-old has scored 542 runs in 13 matches at an average of close to 50.
“He is somebody who is a very happy-go-lucky guy. He doesn’t really regret a lot of things that has happened in the past. That’s his mindset, that’s his outlook towards life. He values what he has in his hands. He has got ODI cricket in his hands,” Bangar added.
“All these things, put together, he has a brilliant personality, character and charisma,” he added.
Notably, Dhawan spoke about his aspirations on Wednesday, saying he is working hard to be in contention for the 2023 World Cup, which will be held in India in October-November.
