Shikhar Dhawan had been having a torrid time before the World Cup. His bat had become all but deadwood and he was drifting into doom and depression. Just then, his Australian wife, a believer of Brahma Kumaris, suggested that perhaps he — and the team which was faring no better — visit the Sydney-based Brahma Kumari centre for a touch of mental rejuvenation.
Team director Ravi Shastri agreed and the entire team went for a session there. All the boys returned the same day, but Shikhar stayed back for a couple more to clear his mind. Once he was back — and straight into the World Cup — it was a new Dhawan with a new approach and a renewed vigour with the bat. Sometimes meditation and time away from everyone help sort you out, as Dhawan’s two tons in five matches would tell you. After scoring a perfect 100 with 11 boundaries and four sixes against the Irishmen at Hamilton on Tuesday, Dhawan stands second to only Kumar Sangakkara as the highest run getter in this World Cup thus far with 333 runs in his kitty. The Sri lankan has 372 till now with three hundreds.
Dhoni insists this “out of form” phase in a good batsman’s life is as temporary as the last night always is. “Though Shikhar had a tough series, I felt we had put a lot of effort in him. Not to forget, without his contribution it would have been very difficult to win the Champions Trophy. So we believed in him. But the final step needs to be taken by the individual and he prepared well for these ODIs. I have always said, it’s those 15 minutes that really change everything, and I’m glad he got those 15 minutes,” Dhoni said at the post match Press conference at Hamilton.
Dhawan started off the tournament by scoring a quick 73 against Pakistan and following it up with a handsome ton against South Africa at MCG. He lay low in Perth against both the UAE and West Indies but roared back to make a statement in Hamilton, partnering a record number of 174 runs with Rohit Sharma who made a cool 64 in the process. Though Dhawan’s century came after he got the mandatory two lives that get him going, (dropped at 5 and then 10), he was a show of aggression and style all through. He adorned his effort with 11 boundaries and five sixes before falling to a well taken catch by Porterfield off Thompson just when he reached his 100.
“The difference I’ve seen in Shikhar’s batting is once he gets a start, he makes a good score and converts it into a big innings. He’s not someone who is happy getting a 50. He knows that the team needs him to score big runs. So once he gets to his 50, he hits the next milestone which is a 100. With him doing that, it becomes easy for the other guys to bat around him,” Dhoni tells you. Shikhar has the ability to accelerate runs and pretty often and he uses the pace of the bowler to do so, something that showed up at the MCG and also in Hamilton.
“I would rate my innings as 10 on 10. I always rate myself well. On a serious note, I’d say I played more creatively, I enjoyed that creativity, playing my shots and using bowlers’ mind. I’m used to the bounce and pace and I’m enjoying my game here. I’ve spent lots of time to figure out my game,” Man of the Match Dhawan said after receiving his trophy from New Zealand’s champion cricketer Richard Hadlee.
Dhawan’s show would not have been possible had Rohit Sharma not kept up the momentum from the other end, adding a confident 64 while acting as an anchor for Shikhar. In the process, the opening pair niggles were also sorted out and India wrapped up a record-making opening partnership of 174 runs, bettering the 163 stitched up by Sachin Tendulkar and Ajay Jadeja against Kenya at Cuttack in 1996.
After Rohit walked in the 24th over, Dhawan kept up the charge hammering away the short ones over the rope to backward square leg, or lobbing it straight over the bowler’s head or even swatting it to the long on fence with hapless Irish bowlers, particularly Kevin O Brien, faling to find a key to Dhawan’s fall.