Ever-smiling Shikhar Dhawan takes a snap with Sunil Gavaskar

Fresh from a thumping win, Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan posted a picture with legendary former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar on social media. Gavaskar has always been an admirer of Dhawan and he is surely pleased with the batter’s performance on Sunday evening. The in-form opener scored his 12th ODI ton to guide India to its eighth consecutive series win. Chasing a modest target of 216 to clinch the title, Dhawan expressed himself in an aggressive manner. His unbeaten 100* came off 85 deliveries and it included 13 boundaries and a couple of sixes. India achieved the target with more than 17 overs to spare.

In the process, the southpaw became the second fastest Indian and sixth overall to reach the 4000-run mark in ODIs. Dhawan reached the feat in 94 innings. Virat Kohli is the fastest Indian and fourth overall, as it took him 93 innings. Kohli achieved the feat against England in Ranchi earlier this year.

Dhawan grabs the honor

Dhawan was adjudged the man of the series. At the post-match conference, he said”I feel like I’m batting my best, I know my game well now, which is why my consistency has gone up. A bit on technique and changed my guard. I’m an experienced player, I know how to handle situations, and my success rate has gone up. Most of the time I score fifty, I look to go for a century.”

It was the first series win as captain for Rohit Sharma and ahead of the final ODI, his opening partner Dhawan had said that Rohit is one of the best openers in the game. “We have played together for a long time. Rohit is one of the best opening batsmen I have played with. Once I’m set, I can demolish any side because that’s my strength. And even Rohit, once he gets settled, scores big. When you attack the opposition and with the caliber of players we have in our ranks, any opposition will feel the pressure.”