"Shikhar probably missed out on a triple-ton", reckons Sunil Gavaskar

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar said in the post match show “Extraaa Innings” that Shikhar Dhawan had probably missed out on a golden opportunity to score a triple-century. Dhawan had scored a mind-boggling 190 off 168 balls, which includes 31 boundaries.

He also drew parallels between Virender Sehwag and Dhawan, the way both these players approach a situation giving no importance to their personal milestones. He reckoned their style of batting should be respected.

“Expect the unexpected from those type of players(Sehwag and Dhawan). I feel he’s probably missed on an opportunity to score a triple-hundred as he had the start and getting to 190 is not easy at all. On the brink of tea break, its debatable if that sort of approach was necessary, but that’s what you get from Dhawan. That was a terrific innings from him,” said the 68-year-old.

“Shikhar’s batting made the pitch look lifeless”

Gavaskar’s partner in the post match show and former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja added that players like Dravid or Pujara will never do anything like that when they’re in their 90s or 190s. He also said that everyone would’ve spoken of his valour with great pride given he got a boundary there. Dhawan attempted to come down the track and spank the ball over mid-off, but he hit it straight to the fielder who made no mistake in grabbing the opportunity.

“That’s the way he plays(Dhawan) and I’m glad he got some runs. It was not the pitch, but Shikhar’s batting which made the pitch look lifeless. We often see turn and lack of bounce in Lankan pitches. The hosts missed out on great opportunities in the first session. If they had grabbed that chance of Dhawan, India would’ve been on the backfoot and the same track would’ve appeared like a bowling paradise,” said Ajay Jadeja.

After Virender Sehwag’s retirement, Indian fans have been oblivious to the sort of stroke play and majestic batting display that Shikhar Dhawan had portrayed on the First day of the first Test against Sri Lanka. The way he absolutely clobbered the Lankan line up speaks volumes about the diminishing quality of the Islanders and purple patch of the southpaw.