Opener Shikhar Dhawan said he and the other senior pros in Team India are always open to helping youngsters like Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant.
Shreyas has been making decent contributions of late, but Pant is going through a difficult phase with questions raised over his shot-selection and temperament. However, Dhawan assured that the senior players are always there to help the juniors out.
“If any youngster wants to discuss something with us at any time, we are always open to helping them. We are always there for them,” Dhawan said on the eve of the third and final T20I against South Africa, in Bangalore.
“For senior players like us, say someone like Rishabh comes in to bat or Shreyas coming in, we make sure we communicate well with them, and that they are comfortable and not nervous. We make them think what is needed at that particular moment.
“That’s what we do even when I am batting with Rohit (Sharma) or Virat (Kohli). We keep discussing and that is very important. Communication is very, very important.”
Dhawan is optimistic that the team management will give the young players a fair run to establish themselves going into the T20 World Cup next year. “While trying out youngsters, it is good to give them a good run because when new players come in, it takes time for them to express themselves.”
Dhawan also believes that the coming T20Is would be the perfect platform for the likes of Washington Sundar and
Deepak Chahar to build on their confidence in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup. Both Washington and Chahar have impressed in recent times with their performance and attitude.
“Washington is bowling really well, giving us the breakthroughs and also keeping the batsmen bottled up. He has got very good control and variety as well.
“Even Deepak… He swings the ball both ways and at the same time, he has pace. It is the perfect platform for these guys to perform and build on their confidence going into the T20 World Cup,” Dhawan said.
Dhawan’s World Cup campaign in the UK was cut short by an injury, but he looked in good touch during his crucial partnership with captain Kohli in the second T20I in Mohali.
“I have been playing well. I got a break and came back and though I didn’t score many runs in the West Indies, I was middling the ball nicely.
“For me, it’s normal… It happens… Four-five innings can go here and there. But I know that my process is very strong and I am a keen observer of whatever I am doing.
“I know the hard work I have put in and I know that things will go good for me,” he emphasised.
Dhawan, meanwhile, confirmed that he would be turning up for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy.
“Now even after this series, I am going to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy as well. I am looking forward to that. “I’ll make sure that whatever cricket I play, I play with all my heart whether it’s the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy or for the Indian team,” he said.
