IPL 2021: I try to play according to the match situation – Shikhar Dhawan

Delhi Capitals opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan was happy to take a backseat as his partner Prithvi Shaw wreaked havoc against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Thursday. Shaw smashed 82 runs off just 41 balls as he decimated the KKR bowlers with his aggressive strokeplay.

As Shaw was going all guns blazing at the other end, there was no need for Dhawan to take any risks and that’s what the experienced southpaw batsman did. Dhawan played the role of the second fiddle and rotated the strike to give more chances to Shaw.

Dhawan scored 46 runs from 47 balls and played his role to perfection. The left-hander was dismissed by KKR’s gun fast bowler Pat Cummins but not before he added 132 runs with Shaw and got his team close to the target of 156 runs.

In fact, this was the second hundred run alliance between Shaw and Dhawan in this season and both of them have been consistent for DC. After scoring 46 runs, Dhawan once again took the lead in the highest run-getters of the tournament and now has Orange cap on his head. The left-hander has scored 311 runs in seven matches at an average of 44.42 and an impressive strike rate of 131.77.

Dhawan said in the post-match presentation, “Prithvi was playing amazing, it was lovely to watch it from the other end. We were getting so many runs, I didn’t think of taking too many risks and played according to the game situation. I don’t have to compare, I just have to play my role according to the situation and that’s what I did. I made a conscious effort to bring up my strike-rate because I knew that this game needed that and me as an opener had to take those risks. At the same time, smart enough to know when to take risks and when not to. Like today, there was no need for me to take any risk, Prithvi was playing totally on a different level”,

Dhawan added he is enjoying playing under the tutelage of Ricky Ponting, who is a great coach and is known to get the best out of his players. Ponting has all the experience under his belt and guides the players on the right track.

Dhawan added, “It’s amazing, I enjoy playing under Ricky’s coaching. He’s a great coach, our team is a strong family. He keeps everyone together, all the boys in the squad, even the net bowlers, he makes sure he takes good care of them. That’s a great sign and I really appreciate him for that” 

DC will next face PBKS at the same venue on 2nd of May.