IND vs SA | Stint with India 'A' ideal preparation before the South Africa series, says Shikhar Dhawan
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Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan has stated that his stint with the India 'A' team serves as ideal preparation for him ahead of the three-match T20I series against South Africa. Having been selected for the last two one-dayers for the 'A' side, Dhawan impressed with returns of 51 and 52 in two matches.
After having a disappointing tour of the Caribbean which saw him amass no scores of 50 or more across five innings, Shikhar Dhawan desperately needed to get some runs under his belt ahead of the T20Is against South Africa. After the selectors presented him with the opportunity to do so by picking him for the last two unofficial ODIs against South Africa 'A', the left-hander repaid their faith in style by scoring back-to-back half-centuries to send a timely reminder to everyone about his abilities.
Now, with his Test career all but over, Dhawan is more or less of a limited-overs specialist, and the Delhite believes that the one-dayers against South Africa 'A' side will serve as perfect preparation for him ahead of the T20Is against South Africa which will commence from September 15.
"I'm not in the Test side. So I get enough breaks. There's nothing like playing a game and being on the ground. The more matches you play, the better you get," Dhawan told Times of India.
"After seeing my workload and everything, I felt I had enough off days and thought I could play these two matches. This is good preparation for me before a series," he added.
After missing a vast majority of the 2019 World Cup due to a thumb injury, Dhawan now has his eyes well and truly set on the 2020 T20 World Cup in Australia. He revealed that his main goal is to keep scoring runs consistently for the Indian cricket team in the games to follow. Speaking of the India 'A' camp, the 33-year-old also revealed that he was a having a fun time and that he was trying his best to pass on the knowledge to all the youngsters around him.
"I'm looking forward to the T20 World Cup, to scoring a lot of runs for the Indian team and keep performing consistently. These boys have been doing very well. I am a fun-loving boy. I can mingle with everyone. We laugh together, have dinner together. On the field, whatever knowledge I have gained over the years, I try to pass on to them," Dhawan added.
