In a move that sparked considerable debate, Shikhar Dhawan, a seasoned pillar of Indian cricket, especially in white-ball formats, found himself excluded from the 2023 Asian Games squad. This snub comes despite India fielding a largely secondary team for the T20 tournament scheduled from September 28 to October 8 in Hangzhou, China.
While a disappointed Dhawan expressed his surprise, he gracefully acknowledged that the team's hierarchy might possess alternate visions. The feeling persists that Dhawan's T20 journey with Team India may be winding down. Let's delve into the three compelling reasons underpinning his omission.
1. Vision for the Future: Dhawan’s Inclusion Appears Misaligned
India's T20I strategy has lately been under scrutiny, with critics pointing to an outdated approach as the culprit behind their underwhelming World Cup campaigns. Recognizing this, the management has been steering towards a more dynamic, aggressive style, emphasizing young talents ahead of the next World Cup in the Caribbean.
Even stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have maintained distance from T20Is, hinting at India's commitment to nurturing a young brigade. In this backdrop, Dhawan's inclusion might seem contradictory. Given he's edging towards the twilight of his career, his agility in critical T20 attributes, such as fielding and quick running, could be questioned.
2. Extended International Absence & Abundance of Young Openers
Recent performance is a cornerstone of national selection. Dhawan’s case becomes challenging since he hasn’t donned the blue jersey for T20 since mid-2021 against Sri Lanka. Despite his commendable IPL outings, a slew of youngsters have overshadowed him in the race for the national opener’s slot.
With Dhawan's historical preference for the opener position and younger talents like Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Ruturaj Gaikwad showcasing impressive form and agility, Dhawan's comeback seems increasingly difficult.
3. Unimpressive T20I Stats Cast Shadows
While experience is invaluable, Dhawan's T20I numbers for India are somewhat underwhelming. With an average of 27.92 and a strike rate of 126.36 over 68 T20I games, Dhawan's figures don't inspire immediate recall. Furthermore, his recent T20 performances for India (2019-2021) highlight a dip in form, with an average of 25.10 and a strike rate just above 113.
In conclusion, given the direction Team India is steering towards, prioritizing a blend of youth and performance, the decision to bypass Shikhar Dhawan for the Asian Games seems justified.
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