I can get into the T20 World Cup side by doing well in IPL 2022: Shikhar Dhawan

Veteran Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan is optimistic about getting a place in India’s T20I squad for the 2022 edition of the T20 World Cup, which will take place later this year in Australia. In an interview, when he was asked about the chances of his comeback to the T20I side, Dhawan stated that an impressive campaign in IPL 2022 can earn him a place in World Cup squad.

For the unversed, Dhawan played his last T20I match in July 2021 against Sri Lanka, wherein he led a second-string Indian team in the absence of first-choice players. While he couldn’t do much against the Lankan Lions, he found himself among the runs in the previous edition of IPL. Despite being the fourth-highest run-getter of the competition, he couldn’t find a place in India’s T20I World Cup 2021 squad as the selectors went with youngster Ishan Kishan as the back-up opener.

Since then, Shikhar Dhawan has been out of India’s T20I team. Nowadays, he is only being considered for the ODI matches and the same was evident as he was dropped from Grade A to Grade C in the BCCI Central contract list. Nonetheless, Dhawan reckons an impressive show in IPL 2022 can see him getting a recall in the T20I side.

I am a process-driven person: Shikhar Dhawan

In IPL 2022, Dhawan will play for Punjab Kings as he was signed for INR 8.25 crores in the mega-auction. He is the senior-most player in the squad and enjoyed a good run in the previous editions of IPL. Hence, the veteran will look to maximise this opportunity to get into the T20 World Cup squad.

“The T20 World Cup is coming. I know that if I do well in the IPL, I can get into the side. I am a very process-driven person. I don’t set goals,” Dhawan was quoted as saying by the Times of India. Meanwhile, skipper Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan are the current set of openers in India’s T20I squad. Hence, it will take some beating to pip any of the three.