“After that I was out of the Test team” - Shikhar Dhawan’s shocking revelation of poor treatment despite batting with broken arm in 2016
Former Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan made a stunning revelation about getting dropped from the Test side despite playing with a broken arm in 2016. The match in question was the second Test between India and New Zealand in Kolkata.
After scoring only one in the first innings, Dhawan was under immense pressure to deliver the goods in the second innings, having gone 13 batting stints without a century. However, the southpaw scored only 17 in the second innings and was subsequently dropped from the Test side.
In an interview on Ranveer Allahbadia's new YouTube show called 'Taakat', Dhawan opened up on the same, saying (via Hindustan Times):
"The most difficult phase of my career, there was a time when I was really desperate. I knew that if I don't score runs I would be out of the team. We had a Test match in Kolkata, against New Zealand. First innings I got out, second innings I went out and got hit by a ball by Trent Boult, it broke my arm."
He continued:
"I knew that if I choose to sit out of that innings, I would be out of that team. So I decided no, I’m going to play, I'm going to see out the innings. I'm dead either way, so might as well die completely on the pitch and go out). I played with a broken arm, got out on 15-20 runs, and after that I was out of the Test team."
Dhawan had an incredible start to his Test career, scoring a blistering 187 on debut against Australia in Mohali in 2013. However, his red-ball career was marred by inconsistencies until his axing in the above-mentioned 2016 series against New Zealand.
"I worked with a desperate energy" - Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan admitted being desperate in practice and during the matches leading up to his axing from the Test side in 2016. The left-hander returned to the Indian red-ball side a year later and scored a brilliant 190 against Sri Lanka in Galle.
Despite two more centuries post the Sri Lanka century, Dhawan played Tests only until the 2018 tour of England before being dropped for good
"I realised that when I introspected, I was too desperate for that place. It’s a very valuable place, people live like kings there. I was cribbing a little. I did put in a lot of work, but I worked with a desperate energy. That’s why I didn’t get the results. So I asked myself, what is most important for me in life? Happiness is most important, that I stay happy," said Dhawan.
He concluded:
"This was my dream, and I lived out my dream, set a world record, and I knew this would never stop, it would keep going. The race will never stop, someone will always be there. I started work on myself internally. I’ll be happy, if I have to be in the Indian team, the Indian team will come to me itself. That's how I played in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy."
Dhawan finished his Test career with 2,315 runs at an average of 40.61, including seven centuries, in 34 matches.