Rohit and Dravid backed me, told my vision should be the 2023 ODI World Cup: Shikhar Dhawan

Senior India batter and Punjab Kings skipper, Shikhar Dhawan revealed that Indian head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma backed him to see him feature in the ODI World Cup. Despite being regarded as one of the mainstays in the ODI setup, the southpaw has lost his place to Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan following a dip in his form.

The 37-year-old batter featured in 22 ODI matches in 2022, aggregating 688 runs. Centering his focus to just the 50-over format, Dhawan seemed to make it to the probables list for the marquee event in October-November. Furthermore, he opined that India skipper Rohit and coach Dravid urged him to focus on the ICC ODI event prior to a dip in his form.

"When Rohit took over the captaincy, he along with Rahul Dravid backed me enough. They told me they wanted me to focus on my cricket and that my vision should be the next World Cup. 2022 was very good for me, I was consistent in ODIs,” Dhawan told in an interview with Aaj Tak.

“But there is this young guy who has been doing well in two formats, and when my form dipped in a series or two then they gave a chance to Shubman (Gill) and he has lived up to their expectation. We are used to such situation. When Ishan Kishan slammed a double century against Bangladesh, then for a moment I thought I could be out of the team," he added.

I definitely would have given the chance to Shubman: Dhawan

Shubman on the other hand has amassed 624 runs in nine innings in 2023, which includes two tons and a double-hundred. With this, Dhawan has turned out to be an out-of-favour player with his door virtually being shut in the ODI setup.

“I feel the way Shubman is playing at the moment, like he was playing two formats and performing well in Tests and T20s. He was playing more matches in the international circuit, and I wasn't. If I were the selector, I definitely would have given the chance to Shubman. Would have selected Shubman over Shikhar,” he concluded. 

Dhawan will look to ply his trade for Punjab Kings in the upcoming edition of the IPL. A significant uptick in his form could hand him fair chances of making a place in the national setup once again.