I don't think the selectors' thinking is towards Shikhar Dhawan for T20Is: Saba Karim

Former wicketkeeper-batter Saba Karim reckons it is unlikely that Shikhar Dhawan would get a place in the T20I team based on his performances in the ODIs, citing that he would not be in selectors’ plans. However, he feels that the opener has cemented his place in the Indian ODI team.

The former Indian wicketkeeper called Dhawan an “indispensable force”, and hailed the opening combination of Dhawan and Rohit Sharma in ODIs. Karim added that Dhawan is someone India can depend on, considering his performances and consistency with the bat in ODIs.

“Not in my opinion. The T20 format is different; the demands in T20 cricket are different,” Karim said during a chat with India News. “There, the number of talented players we are seeing at the moment, I don’t think the selectors’ thinking is towards Shikhar Dhawan.”

Shikhar Dhawan’s role has been important in last two or three years: Karim

“I feel Shikhar Dhawan’s place in ODI cricket is confirmed; he is an indispensable force as an opening batter. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are a fantastic combination,” added Karim. “He has been performing like this regularly in ODI cricket. The consistency is seen in his batting and in ODI cricket; apart from strike rate and average, you need a batter who you can depend on.”

Dhawan took over the captaincy duties for the ongoing ODI series in the India tour of West Indies in the absence of Rohit. In the first ODI on July 22, in Port of Spain, he scored 97 off 99 balls and guided India to a three-run victory against the hosts.

“Shikhar is a player, who if we see the last two or three years, then whether it is Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, his role has been extremely important. It is because of Shikhar and Rohit’s partnership that the following batters have found it easier to set or chase a target,” Karim further added.

In the first ODI, Dhawan opened with Shubman Gill, who scored 64 runs off 53 balls, and they together added 119 runs for the first wicket. Dhawan went on to win the Player of the Match award for his performance with the bat. The second ODI is set to take place on July 24, Sunday, at the same venue.