Shikhar Dhawan explains why he took the review despite nicking the ball

Shikhar Dhawan has revealed that he did not feel the edge after being given out on 94 in the second innings of the ongoing Test match against Sri Lanka. The left-hander was dismissed by Dasun Shanaka just before stumps on the fourth day and also missed out on the well-deserved century. However, he also used up a review of the team after edging the ball to Niroshan Dickwella which was criticised by the commentator Simon Doull on air.

Dhawan played an exceptional knock at the top and added 166 runs in quick time which helped India take a lead of 49 by the end of the day. His innings of 94 off just 113 deliveries was studded with 11 fours and a couple of maximums. He dominated the bowlers and literally scored boundaries at will after starting slowly early on in his knock. The counterattack from the opening pair has opened up a chance for India now to dictate the terms on the final day and it would be interesting to see if they try to make the match out of it.

We are going to play positively tomorrow

Shikhar Dhawan was disappointed after missing out on yet another century against Sri Lanka but was also happy for scoring quick runs for the team when needed. He also revealed that the conditions were completely different compared to the first day and it was easy hitting through the line. Though he felt that he didn’t edge the delivery and so decided to challenge the decision of the umpire Nigel Llong.

“I am feeling good and bad both (smiles). Happy that I scored runs, but disappointed that I missed the century. Even Rahul played well, good that we are making a match out of this situation. The conditions are completely different from what they were on the first day. There is swing and bounce but it’s coming nicely onto the bat. See for Rangana, I know that it’s not going to spin and he is going to pitch up. So I backed myself to play shots. It was not spinning at all, it was coming nicely onto the bat. I was just cashing in. I enjoyed hitting sixes,” he said in the interview after the end of day’s play.

“We are going to play positive cricket tomorrow, try to give them a decent total and make a match out of this. I could not feel the nick, so I took the chance (review). It was not that big an edge, sometimes things go your way, sometimes they don’t,” Dhawan explained the reason for him taking the review.