Have to make sure I donât allow emotions to get the better of me, reveals Shikhar Dhawan
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Shikhar Dhawan opened up about how his lack of emotional expression on the pitch is often misunderstood for lack of intensity when it is exactly the opposite of that. The Indian opener added that despite being a senior member in the Delhi Capitals dugout, he was keen to learn from the youngsters.
Shikhar Dhawan is often referred to as âinconsistentâ but when one pays closer attention to his more recent stats with the Indian team and the recently-concluded IPL, it comes to show that the explosive left-handed batsman has definitely matured as a cricketer in the last year or so. Dhawan impressed in the away series against New Zealand earlier this year and also scored a brilliant 143 in the home series against Australia in Mohali.
Dhawan, who recently switched teams in the IPL from Sunrisers Hyderabad to Delhi Capitals, opened up about how his lack of expression on the pitch is often misunderstood as lack of intensity by his critics.
âI donât show my emotions. The intensity stays inside me,â Dhawan said, reacting to a question. Getting excited will not help. I like to have a clear mind but that doesnât mean I donât have any intensity.â
âI discuss my cricket with her. We have intense discussions on how I am going about it. Sometimes she gets so involved and excited if I donât play well that I need to tell her, âCalm down. Itna gussa toh mera coach bhi nahin hota (even my coach doesnât get this angry with my performance). I was lucky that with my wife came her two daughters. That helped me channelize my energy. I became less distracted, more focused. It has brought thehrav in my life,â Dhawan said in a recent interview with TOI.
The move from Hyderabad to Delhi has helped Dhawan perform the role of a senior mentor in a young and motivated Delhi Capitals team who missed out on the IPL final by losing to Chennai Super Kings in the second qualifier last week. However, Dhawan insists that he has learnt a lot from the likes of Prithvi Shaw, Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant.
âEven at Capitals, I may be the senior player and guide youngsters like Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer, but I also realize they are also professionals who have made it to this level. So I go looking for answers from them and try to learn how they deal with situations. Itâs the same with Rohit (Sharma) as well.
âI love everything â the ups and downs â about the last five-six years of my life. You learn to value the journey. I donât want to let go the joy of winning, the pain of losing and the pressure that it brings. It has also brought responsibility,â Dhawan, who scored 521 runs in the IPL, concluded.
