Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Shikhar Dhawan

Cardiff: India and South African teams had faced each other in the opening match of the Champions Trophy. South Africa won the toss and chose to field first. Dhoni led Indian team had no senior players like Sachin, Sehwag, Yuvraj and Gambhir. But is filled with energetic young players and had given a tremendous performance piling up a huge total of 331 runs. The opening partnership of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma was the highlight of the innings. When both the openers Dhavan and Rohit, both had achieved half centuries and were in form Rohit was out giving a catch to Peterson in the bowling of Mac Laren at a score of 127 for India.
Rohit was out for 65 runs and Shikhar made a sparkling Century. There were also some crackling performances from Virat and Jadeja later in the Indian innings. Shikhar Dhawan had reached century in just 80 balls with 12 fours and a Six. This was notably the first century for Shikhar in the international Cricket. Shikhar had made the South Indian bowlers sweat to bowl to him. Though there were no senior batsmen in the final 11, young players have played with a dashing performance reaching to 331 runs losing 7 wickets in the limited 50 overs.
Shikhar Dhawan got India's campaign in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy off to a flying start as he registered his first hundred in one-day internationals in the tournament opener against South Africa in Cardiff on Thursday. (Match scorecard) Dhawan, who became Indian cricket's latest poster boy by scoring a swashbuckling ton on Test debut versus Australia, reached the three-figure mark with a swat over deep square leg off the bowling of Rory Klienveldt. (Live Blog) Like his debut century in Tests, which came off 85 balls, Dhawan's maiden ton in the coloured clothing for India came in just 80 balls.
I am courageous by nature: Dhawan
Dhawan hit 12 fours and a six in his 94-ball 114 which ended in the 38th over when he swept off spinner JP Duminy to square leg,Interestingly, Dhawan, prior to this knock was no big deal in ODIs, having scored just 69 runs in five previous matches. His selection in the Champions Trophy side was due to his well-remembered 174-ball 187-run knock on Test debut. He started the innings on a cautious note with Rohit Sharma but went on to take the attack to the bowlers after settling into a good rhythm.
Dhawan and Rohit stitched a 127-run stand to give team India a superb platform. India beat South Africa by 26 runs for the statistically minded, in the last 6 years only two left-handers have made ODI centuries against South Africa - Kumar Sangakkara at Johannesburg in January 2012 and today Dhawan. India unbeaten against South Africa in Champions Trophy. The best thing about Dhawan's innings was his fearless approach against the likes of Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Ryan McLaren and Rory Kleinveldt. Dhawan didn't mind coming to the front-foot against these bowlers, who were often pitching it short. He was hit on the helmet once as well, but that couldn't stop him.
There were times during the first-wicket partnership of 127 with Rohit Sharma when he was kept away from the strike. But Dhawan showed his maturity and when he got his chance, played some superb shots on the up which were difficult to stop."He played a superb innings today. Looks a great find for India," Shane Warne told about Dhawan, who was playing his sixth ODI on Thursday. There's some similarity in the way the careers of Dhawan and Gautam Gambhir have shaped up.
Gambhir, too, was a prolific run-scorer in the domestic circuit, but took some time to cement his place in the Indian team. Dhawan, too, has been around for a while, and his first five ODIs weren't too productive. But his debut Test century against Australia was nothing short of sensational and he followed it up with a good IPL. And now, this century against South Africa in Cardiff should seal his spot in the Indian team for the time being. "He seems to have started from where he left off against Australia. He timed the ball well, played both the pacers and spinners well," former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxHQ9J75K_c 

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