From Hong Kong to Galle: How destiny had other plans for India's Shikhar Dhawan

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • An unlikely return to the Test fold for Dhawan.

    Shikhar Dhawan was all set to leave for Melbourne to join up with his Australia-based wife and family when the call to replace the injured Murali Vijay in the Indian Test squad for the tour of Sri Lanka.

    The left-hander last played in the whites of India during October of last year in the second Test against the touring New Zealand side. Dhawan had come in as a late replacement then for the injured K.L Rahul, but on that occasion, failed to make the most of his opportunity.

    He would last just ten deliveries in the first innings before being bowled for just one run by pacer Matt Henry. His second innings was marginally better than the first as he got a start before succumbing leg before to Trent Boult for 17 runs.

    Expectedly, the 31-year-old lost his place in the squad upon Rahul’s return and was not considered for the visits of England and Australia.

    Since then, Rahul has gone on to establish himself as the opening partner to Murali Vijay in the long format for India while Dhawan has been grinding it out in ODI cricket for the Men in Blue.

    The Delhi-born batsman was in golden touch during the ICC Champions Trophy in England in the summer as Virat Kohli’s side advanced to the final before coming undone against Pakistan.

    It was perhaps this showing or the lack of any other viable alternative that earned Dhawan a Test recall to replace Vijay on the Sri Lanka tour. The limited overs opener was in Hong Kong with family on a holiday two days before India’s departure to Sri Lanka.

    However, a double injury to Vijay and Rahul meant that India had to field an entirely new combination in Dhawan and Abhinav Mukund for the opening Test at Galle.

    Dhawan’s return in Galle could very well have mirrored his Kolkata return but for Asela Gunaratne who dropped the left-hander on 32 while fielding at second slip.

    The rest as they say is history and Dhawan went on to make an entertaining and fluid 190 runs while Gunaratne’s Test series was over due to the wrist injury sustained while attempting the catch.

    “My plans were to go to Melbourne and spend time with my family, do training and get fit for the one-day series (beginning August 20),” Dhawan said after his innings.

    “I was in Hong Kong actually on holiday and from there I flew back to India and joined the team. That was my plan and I think destiny had a different plan for me.”

    It sure seems destiny has given Dhawan a second chance and this time the opener has grabbed it with both hands leaving a selection conundrum for the Indian think tank now that Rahul has been passed fit for the second Test.

    Recommended