Despite two consecutive ducks in the practice match, Shikhar Dhawan should get a chance to play in the first Test match against England, as was also said by former batsman VVS Laxman who insisted that India must stick with the player.
“He could take the game away from the opposition very early and if he could stamp his authority on James Anderson and Stuart Broad, it would defuse England’s biggest threats. He must be promoted to go out and bat without restraint, without even restraint of fear weighing on his mind,” Laxman wrote in a column for Times Of India.
A cricketer like Yuvraj Singh one time said that as long as the batsman hits the runs, his identity continues (Jab tak balla bolta hai, tab tak baat rehti hai).” His statement applies very well for Shikhar Dhawan.
In an odd way, Dhawan’s failures may give a chance to the Murli Vijay-KL Rahul partnership at the top of the batting order. He needs to spend more time in the middle order, according to cricket experts.