Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan claimed that given the young batter's fantastic current form, the Indian selector would have chosen Shubman Gill above him. In 2023, Gill will be India's top batter across all three formats after scoring hundreds in each, including a double hundred in ODI cricket against New Zealand.
The 23-year-old's performance has all but guaranteed him a spot in the team for the 2023 World Cup. Dhawan has been absent from the Indian squad picture for a while, thanks to Gill's successful run.
'Gill was playing more matches in the international circuit, and I wasn't' - Shikhar Dhawan
The seasoned opener acknowledged that Gill would have received the opportunity without a doubt rather than him. Dhawan claimed that Gill has been outperforming him in Tests and T20s and has participated in more international matches than he has. Dhawan claimed that he would have chosen Gill above him if he had been in charge of selecting the Indian team.
"I feel the way Shubman is (playing at the moment). Like he was playing two formats and performing well in Tests and T20s. He was playing more matches in the international circuit, and I wasn't. "If I were the selector, then I definitely would have given the chance to Shubman. Would have selected Shubman over Shikhar," said Dhawan.
In addition, Dhawan said that his teammate Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid supported him and advised him to concentrate on the 2023 World Cup. The seasoned India opener continued by saying that Gill's consistency and his own decline in form caused him to leave the team.
"When Rohit took over the captaincy, he, along with Rahul Dravid, backed me enough. They told me they wanted me to focus on my cricket and that my vision should be the next World Cup. 2022 was very good for me; I was consistent in ODIs. But there is this young guy who has been doing well in two formats, and when my form dipped in a series or two, then they gave a chance to Shubman, and he has lived up to their expectation. We are used to such situations. When Ishan Kishan slammed a double century against Bangladesh, then for a moment, I thought I could be out of the team," said Dhawan.
Here's how fans reacted to Shikhar Dhawan's selfless remark:
He is better than motu and pill but he always backs small players
— Suraj (@suprsuraj) March 25, 2023
That's Dhawan for you ❤️
Akaash hmare aur indian players bhi aise hote..... Shikhi bhai gabbar
— Anand (@varun70919811) March 25, 2023
Ek hi to dil hai gabbar bhai, kitni baar jeetoge
— Shanu (@shan_who) March 25, 2023
This is what we call a team player , none of that Thala nonsense
— Sack Potter (@Punjabi_Mou) March 25, 2023
Laut aao Mr ICC
— Sudeep (@sudeeeeeply) March 25, 2023
Mazak nahi raha ab ye
Why man he is a ICC king
— Suraksha Engineers&c (@surakshaengg) March 25, 2023
Shubham is not ready to play big matches see recent australia series
Leave new Zealand there is no boult,Southee etc
Shikhar is king
Zero haters♥️ pic.twitter.com/wwMzSnkGcF
— Rutherford-Bohr(Atharv) (@MelbourneMumbai) March 25, 2023
Me as a Selecter would select@SDhawan25 and @ShubmanGill as opener rest to @klrahul
— swa201 (@s_wa201) March 26, 2023
And@ImRo45 on no 7 as finisher role
That's what @msdhoni done back then