Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan started the 2019 ICC World Cup this summer with a vital century against Australia that helped India keep their campaign on track. With the three-figure score, the opener also picked up an injury to his left thumb that ruled him out of the tournament.
Since his comeback, Dhawan hasn't been able to replicate the same form and has scored just 232 runs in 11 innings – he has failed to score even a half-century. Having lost his Test spot to Mayank Agarwal last year, the tide is not going Dhawan’s way, but the 33-year-old is the epitome of confidence and calm focus despite talks of possibly being replaced even in the shorter formats.
The Quint caught up with the star cricketer on the sidelines of the launch of StanceBeam’s 'Striker’, a smart cricket bat sensor that he feels will help not just young cricketers but pros like him as well.
If a batsman doesn’t perform well for a series, there’s always discussions around it. A lot of people are now saying Shikhar Dhawan is on the wane. How you do see it? That it’s just critics talking or does it affect you?
No, I never listen to my critics and I don’t need to know that information. I know what I’m doing and I don’t need to go and read it because I know what they’re writing. I don’t need to put some negative information in myself and I know if I’m not performing. I will be the first person who will know it and I will work on it.
We’ve seen Shikhar score century on century in previous seasons but by your own standards, this year really hasn’t been a ‘Shikhar’ sort of year, right?
No, that’s alright. Life is all about ups and downs. If a series doesn’t go well, it’s okay. What matters is, how was the effort I put into it? That’s what matters. I gave it my all. I worked with my heart and if I implemented my strategies well, then that’s what matters.
Sometimes even if you do all those things, things don’t go right and you accept it. That’s fine. I never become desperate that things are not happening so I’m going to go, go, go. I will keep doing my work in my flow and I know things will come to me.
When we see Shikhar Dhawan on TV and playing, you just come across as a very happy cricketer even when you’re not doing well. Is that a mantra, to stay happy?
Life is bigger than cricket. In life, things, specially outside things, are going to go sometimes your way and sometimes they won’t. That shouldn’t disturb your inner peace. It’s good to go after your goals but at the same time when hurdles come, you should be strong and still be happy and still move forward.