By Gaurang
June 9 2013

Virender Sehwag has been an intimidating figure for opposition bowlers and captains at the top of India's batting order in Tests and ODIs, despite his soft doughboy looks.  Now that age and the deterioration of hand-eye coordination as well as other fitness issues seem to have caught up with him, India are glad that another Delhi lad, who looks more the part has taken his place. 

When Shikhar Dhawan, made a sensational Test entry scoring the fastest debut hundred in the history of the game Indians began to take notice.  When he smashed the fastest debut hundred for India in ODIs in the recent Champions Trophy game against South Africa, the world may be sitting up and taking notice.

Dhawan has been touted for a while as the ideal successor to Sehwag at the top of the order, by a couple of regulars on this board who were in the know, having watched him at close quarters.  But now the rest of the world is finding out about him.

On the surface Dhawan and Sehwag are quite different, Dhawan is a south paw, Sehwag a right hander.  Dhawan has the rugged good looks and mustachioed swagger of a warrior chieftan, Sehwag the pudgy mild mannered air of a shopkeeper or accountant.  Yet with bat in hand they have much in common.  Like Sehwag,Dhawan too exudes an air of utter calm at the crease... Nothing phases him... and like Sehwag at least early in his career...he not only loves the big shots...but also is ready to take the quick ones and twos by running like a hare between the wickets. 

After waiting nine long years in the shadow of fellow Delhite Sehwag, many Indian fans certainly hope they have found in Dhawan the one to be the next intimidator at the top of the Indian batting order.  And if he and his newly minted opening partner, Rohit Sharma, do the business at the top of the order in the Champions Trophy, Dhoni and Co. have every chance of  coming home with another piece of silverware. 

Is Shikhar The One?

Discussion started by Indian Cricket Fever (IP Logged), 09/06/2013 20:37

Indian Cricket Fever
09/06/2013 20:37

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2013:07:12:16:44:12 by Birbal.

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Birbal
09/06/2013 20:39

Spirit can you find a picture of Dhawan playing a pull or hook to go with Viru's pic for the article?

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Birbal
09/06/2013 20:54

Asking Rohit to open has been a great move by Dhoni... now with DK in the middle Indian batting line up looks really, really solid

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Birbal
11/06/2013 15:33

Another excellent start from Dhawan and Sharma versus the Windies...

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Birbal
14/06/2013 18:47

Looking forward to see how they do versus Pakistan...

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Spirit of Cricket
14/06/2013 19:31

Done, Birbal.

He looks like a tough cookie. He's had to work to get into the team, and apparently plans to stay for a while.

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Spirit of Cricket
15/06/2013 21:30

Here's another, this against Pakistan:

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Birbal
16/06/2013 05:47

Looks like a real GABBAR no? Brilliant from him and SIR Jadeja...

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Birbal
20/06/2013 16:58

Again Rohit and Shikhar put up a strong opening stand in the CRUNCH game against Sri Lanka...

How important has their providing stability at the top of the order been?

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