Shikhar Dhawan forgets Ashton Turner’s name, calls him ‘that guy’; CA has a laugh

Opener Shikhar Dhawan was under pressure ahead of the fourth ODI against Australia since he was not among runs and scored his last fifty a month-and-half ago. However, Dhawan, or ‘Gabbar’ as he is fondly called, stormed back to form in Mohali by belting 143 off just 118 balls to help India post a huge total of 358 for nine. It was his first century since the Asia Cup last September and his highest score in the 50-overs format studded with 18 fours and three sixes. Overall, it was his 16th ton in ODIs.

Dhawan later came to interact with the press after the match which India could not win despite posting the target, thanks to brilliant batting from three Australians – Peter Handscomb (117), Usman Khawaja (91) and Ashton Turner (84 not out). It was Turned who turned the game in the later stages by belting his runs in just 43 balls. In the 47th over of the game, Dhawan even spilled a simple catch of Turner off the bowling of with Australia needing 12 runs to win. Turner, who was playing in his second game, was adjudged the man of the match as Australia levelled the series 2-2.

The 33-year-old Indian batter, who gave the side a flying start with partner Rohit Sharma by putting up 193 runs, seemed to have forgotten Turner’s name while meeting the press. Dhawan referred Turner as “that guy” while giving him the credit of running away with the game besides ruing the presence of dew that he felt made the task for the Indian bowlers, especially spinners, difficult.

“He’s a new player but we knew that – he already (played). Of course, ‘that guy’ played a really good knock and took the game away from us,” Dhawan told the media.

“But if there wasn’t any dew it wouldn’t be possible to play those shots. Because of the dew those things just got away from us. Credit goes to him that he played a great knock.”

‘Ash who?’

Cricket Australia (CA) was amused by Dhawan’s take and on its official website cricket.com.au, a news story carried the headline: “Ash who? ‘That guy’ leaves India reeling”.

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