India vs Australia | Sanjay Bangar backs Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu despite poor form
BCCI
Sanjay Bangar has backed Shikhar Dhawan despite his poor run at the top of the order saying that he is an important member of the Indian team. The batting coach has also spoken in favour of Ambati Rayudu in the middle-order and stated that one shouldn’t forget his 90-run knock in New Zealand. Â
Dhawan has been going through a poor patch in international cricket ever since September last year. After being the highest run-scorer in the Asia Cup, Dhawan has an average of less than 30 in the 50-over format and now many questions have been raised regarding his performance at the top of the order. In the ongoing series against the Aussies, the opener has scores of 0, 21 and 1 which has resulted in India not getting a good start in the early overs. Â
India’s batting coach Bangar has termed Dhawan’s poor shot selection responsible for his bad show in the last few games and said that the Delhi opener is important in having a right-left opening pair for the Men in Blue.
“In the previous game, he was batting really well till he erred in shot selection. But from our point of view, he has been an important player,” Bangar said at the press conference after India’s 32-run loss against
“If we know that he gets going, he can give us that solidity as it is vital to have that right-left combination going. He is a hugely valuable player for us and he is expected to come good very soon.”
India had lost the wickets of openers Dhawan and Rohit Sharma with only 15 runs on the board which saw Rayudu and Virat Kohl in the middle. Rayudu had a chance to prove his batting at the crucial No.4 position in the playing XI again with the skipper at the other end but he failed to deliver just like the first two games where he had scored 13 and 18. Rayudu was clean bowled by Pat Cummins for only two runs and Bangar termed it as a brilliant ball which could have got any batsman out.Â
“These games are valuable opportunities for all players concerned and even for us so that the players are at their utmost best when we go into the World Cup. Don’t forget that in the last game in New Zealand, Rayudu scored a match-winning 90,” the former India all-rounder explained.
“Today’s delivery that he got, could have gotten out any batsmen with that pace and low bounce. Players are expected to take chances and that’s what we are expecting of every player.”
