A 2-0 lead in the series and depleted opposition seem to have provided an easier opportunity for debutant Shikhar Dhawan, who will replace Sehwag in the opening slot for the third Test starting here on Thursday.
But Dhawan, who made his ODI debut against the same opposition in 2010 and was dismissed for zero, knows that nothing is easy at the international level. He refused to buy the logic that Australia’s bowling attack has been depleted due to the absence of James Pattinson, who has been dropped from the side along with three other players for breach of protocols.
“Their fast bowlers have always been good. Even if there is no Pattinson, there will be someone who can step up for them. Pace has always been their strength. We have to play good cricket irrespective of what kind of attack we are up against,” Dhawan said.
Indian players were enjoying a small break before this match while Australia were battling with a controversy. However, the 27-year-old Delhi batsman said the Indian team “doesn’t know” what was happening in the opposition and they were as focused on this game as the first two. “The confidence of the team is high but as our coach told us, we have to start afresh,” he said.
“We had a break after the second Test, so we want to go with the same attitude and same energy on the field as we did before the start of the series.”
Dhawan, who had a good domestic 2012 season where he scored four centuries and three fifties, was informed of his place in the Mohali Test on Tuesday evening by captain MS Dhoni and coach Duncan Fletcher.
“I was very happy to hear the news,” Dhawan said.
“I just want to grab this opportunity. Of course I was waiting for this day, but I don’t have any pressure on me right now. I am happy that whatever I dreamt of achieving, I have done that.”
Dhawan was frank about the nervousness ahead of the match but at the same time said it happens to every player. “When Viru pa-ji was in the side for the last two matches, I was speaking to him about his experience of making India debut,” he said.
“There will be nerves but at the same time you have to perform well for your side. I guess it’s the same with every player. He just told me to concentrate on my strengths. Also, I keep watching all these seniors in the nets, and keep picking small things from them to better myself.”
As he and Murali Vijay, Dhawan’s opening partner in the match, have replaced two successful openers in the Test side, comparisons are bound to happen but the Delhi opener feels that there won’t be any pressure because Gambhir-Sehwag played for a very long time to become what they are.
“They have played for so many years and have done well for India,” Dhawan said.
“But they have achieved whatever they have over a period of time. It doesn’t happen overnight. Hopefully if we perform well over a period of time, we will be regarded as good as them.”
Dhawan has an impressive record in first-class cricket. In his nine first-class season, he has scored 5679 runs with 16 centuries and 24 half-centuries from 81 games at an average of 45.79. He said that playing in the domestic competitions for nine years has helped him in becoming a mature player.
“In the first year (of first-class cricket) not many opponents will know about your game. By the time you are into third or fourth year, the opponents would have found out your strengths and weaknesses and they will work on it. Bowlers will test your patience. Especially in north, where we play on green tops, if you keep performing in these challenging conditions you get that confidence that you are ready for the next level,” Dhawan said.
“That fact that I am making my Test debut with that experience, I feel more confident,” he added.