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The emergence and rise of young cricketers in India fold is proving to be an impasse in the way of already established players. There are only handful of players who can claim their regularity in the India squad. Even a player of Virat Kohli's repute can't take his place in Indian team for granted.
Players restricting themselves to just one or two format has become a norm now in wake of increasing workload and busy schedule of International cricket. In the backdrop of so much depth in Indian cricket, it's getting tough to accommodate every player in a single format and the senior players are facing the heat to take some crucial calls regarding their careers.
One such India's senior player is Shikhar Dhawan who is struggling to break back into Men in Blue's T20I fold. However, he continues to be an integral part of India's ODI squad but is finding it tough to make it to the shortest format of the game. Dhawan played his last T20I match back in July last year.
Behind Shikhar Dhawan's cheerful exterior lies an intensely "spiritual man" who has made peace with representing India in only one format.
Approaching his 37th birthday, Dhawan has made a pledge to himself.
"Till the time I am playing for India, I would like to be an asset and not a liability," Dhawan said after leading India to an ODI series victory in the West Indies.
From the start of 2020 till the end of West Indies series, Dhawan has played 22 ODIs and scored 975 runs with 10 half-centuries, the highest by an Indian batter by a distance.
"I am a calm, matured person. The performance is a reflection of my experience," Dhawan said when he was reminded of his phenomenal numbers.
"My basics have been pretty strong and I have put in a lot of work to improve my technique. Understanding a format is also very important. I understand the dynamics of ODI format and that has helped me a lot," he added when probed further.
So what is the process to remain consistent in ODIs at a time when bilateral T20Is are gaining precedence. Besides, there is also considerable gap between two 50-over series? "I never let this feeling creep into my system that "Oh God, I am playing only one format or I am playing an ODI series after a long time. Will my body respond well to the rigours of international cricket or will it not? Frankly speaking, I don't like entertaining these thoughts," the senior opener gave a peek into his thought process.
"I view it like this. If I am playing a format after a gap of two months or three months, it always gives me a chance to remain fresh and come into battle fully fit, and with enough time to work on my game." For Dhawan, it is important to value what he has rather than cribbing about what he doesn't.
Riding on Dhawan's captaincy, India claimed an ODI series whitewash against West Indies where he belted 97 and 58 in three innings and also scored a fifty in the first ODI against England.
