Amidst many rumours that were circulated in the media in 2022 that there was a rift in the leadership group of Team India, veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan has now shed light on the issues in an exclusive interview with SportsTak.
Dhawan has not played regularly for India since the tour of New Zealand, but the veteran batter is very much a key player in the dressing room, even if he does not make it to the playing XI on a regular basis. Opening up on the problems within the dressing room, Dhawan said that 'ego clashes' in the dressing room are common, but this just improves the relationships between the players.
"Ego clashes are a very human thing, a normal thing. Everyone has an ego. We are staying together for almost 200 days. So, clashes can take place. 'Ghar pe rehte hai toh bartan khatakte hai'. It is the same with us. I am not taking Rohit or Virat's name. In general, there can be disagreements between any of the 40 people who are in the management or support staff."
"Such arguments will also help with increasing the love and brotherhood between the players," the 37-year-old said.
He also heaped praise on MS Dhoni, who was the player that gave Dhawan his big break in international cricket. Sharing his thoughts on why he believes Dhoni is among the most successful cricketers ever, Dhawan said, "MS Dhoni's presence is very strong. He keeps his calm under pressure and makes the right decision. That's why he's one of the most successful cricketers".
He also opened up on his eventual omission from the team, saying, There are times when you play well throughout the year and then your form drops for one month or two, sometimes that becomes bigger than your performance throughout the year. When a captain, coach and selector take a decision they put plenty of thoughts into it," he added.
"My wish is that whenever I retire from international cricket and cricket, I will take a happy retirement and everyone happy in the dressing room. Because as long as I have played I am happy and have kept everyone happy & made them laugh," he added.
For now, Dhawan will be concentrating on the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, where he will captain Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 16th edition of the tournament.
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