Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan form the most destructive pair in the world, feels Sunil Gavaskar

The duo has been one of India’s best hopes in the ongoing Asia Cup. Especially in the absence of regular captain Virat Kohli, a lion share of India’s batting responsibility lies on the shoulders of stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma and his deputy Shikhar Dhawan. They have done their job well so far and that prompted the great Sunil Gavaskar to describe the dashing opening pair as the “most exciting and destructive opening pair in the world”.

Rohit and Dhawan have scored 45 in 7.4 overs, 86 in 13.1 overs and 61 in 14.2 overs for the opening wicket in the three matches that India have played in this Asia Cup so far – against Hong Kong, Pakistan and Bangladesh, respectively. After a prolonged dry season in England where India’s openers kept on struggling in the Test series, the Asia Cup has been a drastic change and the supporters are not complaining any more.

Penning his column for Times of India, the 69-year-old Gavaskar said: “There are few better sights in cricket than Rohit Sharma in full flow. Along with Shikhar Dhawan, they make the most exciting and destructive opening pair in the world. Both complement each other and take the pressure off each other.”

While Rohit has hit two half-centuries against Pakistan and Bangladesh, Dhawan slammed a century against Hong Kong followed by a couple of the 40s in the following outings. With a comparatively inexperienced side in the absence of the likes of Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane and with an ageing MS Dhoni, the top two have been India’s main hopes in this tournament and they have delivered well till this point.

Rohit-Dhawan pair India’s third most successful in ODIs

Rohit and Dhawan have scored the seventh highest tally of runs for the opening partnership (3,636) in 81 matches since 2013. The two other Indian opening pairs – Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar (6,609 runs) and Virender Sehwag and Tendulkar (3,919 runs) lead at the moment. The current opening duo averages 45.45 and they have scored 12 centuries and as many fifties for the first wicket.

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