Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has decided to speak on the ongoing discussion around the country’s best opening batsman. Since this is a World Cup year, Shikhar Dhawan’s place in the limited-overs format has been called into reasonable question due to the success of Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill. During the same tour, Kishan established his dominance with a spectacular double century, while the veteran Indian opener finished off a forgettable series against Bangladesh. Dhawan is bound when Kishan scores a double century, and star all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has joined in on the argument.
The legendary Indian all-rounder expressed his views on the topic on his YouTube channel, stating his belief that the Asian giants have always boasted formidable top-order batters. Ashwin has spoken highly of veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan, calling him a “stalwart” in white-ball cricket. The former Delhi Capitals batsman has always been a “quiet contributor” to Team India’s success in the limited-overs tournament.
“Only when the Top 3 collapsed India faced problems in the past. Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, and Rohit Sharma. We often highlight Rohit and Kohli, but Dhawan is also an important player. He worked quietly but efficiently. Will Team India manage to find a suitable replacement for him? “Ashwin asked.
Dhawan, India’s senior batsman, has appeared in 167 ODIs. When the 37-year-old failed to perform well against Bangladesh, he was removed from the ODI squad. After the Indian team decided to keep Kishan on the ODI squad while Dhawan was left out, Ashwin issued a notable statement in response to the snub. Should we bring back Shikhar Dhawan or nurture Ishan Kishan, who just hit a double-century? We shouldn’t back a guy only because he had a big game; instead, we should consider the team’s requirements. Which of these individuals will come through when the stakes are highest? Who do you think will benefit India most in the long run? Ashwin said.
Kishan failed to break into the Indian starting XI despite his spectacular double-century. As Rohit Sharma’s backup wicketkeeper, Kishan, sat out the ODI series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand, premier opener Shubman Gill made a strong case for a spot in the team. After scoring 200 runs, Ishan Kishan was taken out of the lineup, although Team India had witnessed Shubman Gill’s success before. He has been the team’s most reliable batsman for several innings, scoring numerous runs. He has quick feet to go along, cleverness at the plate, and solid batting skills. In the Hyderabad ODI, “he played brilliantly in the final overs and hit that 200,” Ashwin stated.
