"He is here to play the World Cup" - Twitter erupts after Shikhar Dhawan scores an unbeaten 99 during IPL 2023 game between SRH and PBKS

Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shikhar Dhawan led from the front against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the ongoing IPL 2023 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday, April 9.

The southpaw remained unbeaten on 99 runs off just 66 balls at a strike rate of 150, including five sixes and 12 fours.

He ensured PBKS post a respectable total of 143/9 in their allotted 20 overs after being asked to bat first, despite suffering a batting order collapse. Sam Curran was the only other batter to reach double figures for Punjab.

Dhawan previously scored 40 and 86* against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), respectively. The left-hander is currently the highest run-scorer in the IPL 2023, with 217 runs in three games.

Fans were overjoyed to witness Shikhar Dhawan's sublime form in the IPL ahead of the 2023 ODI World Cup, scheduled to be played on home soil later this year.

Here are some of the best Twitter reactions:

Saifullah khan

@Saif_Speaks66

Shikhar Dhawan is re inventing himself at the age of 37. He is here to play the World Cup 2023.. #PBKSvSRH

Shikhar Dhawan is re inventing himself at the age of 37. He is here to play the World Cup 2023.. #PBKSvSRH

Aakashsinh Parmar🇮🇳

@ASPaakashsinh

Captain Dhawan leading from front under pressure! Lone warrior

Failure occured, Leader took it up @SDhawan25
#ShikharDhawan #IPL2023

Captain Dhawan leading from front under pressure! Lone warrior

Failure occured, Leader took it up @SDhawan25
#ShikharDhawan #IPL2023

CHETHAN B E 

@ChethanBE

#ShikharDhawan - Appreciation Tweet
ONE MAN SHOW
This innings remembered for ever 🤩
99*(66)
#PBKSvSRH #SRHvsPBKS

1

#ShikharDhawan - Appreciation Tweet 😇🙏
ONE MAN SHOW 💥🔥
This innings remembered for ever 🤩
99*(66)
#PBKSvSRH #SRHvsPBKS https://t.co/vjCaMyIqFj

Nitin Mante

@mantenitin

I strongly believe #ShikharDhawan should be a part of the ODI World cup team because the way Rohit and Ishan are playing miserable #PBKSvSRH

I strongly believe #ShikharDhawan should be a part of the ODI World cup team because the way Rohit and Ishan are playing miserable #PBKSvSRH

Abhinav Tripathy

@AbhinavAT_07

Shikhar Dhawan has a lot of cricket left in him. Shame on Indian team selectors for dropping him because of his age. He is far better than Kishan, Rohit, Rahul currently.

Shikhar Dhawan has a lot of cricket left in him. Shame on Indian team selectors for dropping him because of his age. He is far better than Kishan, Rohit, Rahul currently.

Rishabh (Professor)

@ProfesorSahab

Gabbar Shikhar Dhawan 🥵

6

3

Gabbar Shikhar Dhawan 🔥🥵👑 https://t.co/h0ROw9JWIN

_Sarcasme16_

@_Sarcasme16_

Gabbar

#ShikharDhawan

2

Gabbar 🔥🔥

#ShikharDhawan https://t.co/WpKgnVi1to

Hariom Thakkar

@introvert_medic

ShikharDhawan is only daone !
#ShikharDhawan #PBKSvSRH
#PBKvsSRH

3

2

ShikharDhawan is only daone !
#ShikharDhawan #PBKSvSRH
#PBKvsSRH https://t.co/UaW8FAc4GY

RVCJ Sports

@RVCJ_Sports

Boys 🙂.

#ShikharDhawan #Cricket #CricketTwitter

105

5

Boys 🙂.

#ShikharDhawan #Cricket #CricketTwitter https://t.co/67WoZn4Yol

Vaibhav

@Divyans05789599

People can write off form but they can should never write off character. Shikhar Dhawan is that character

People can write off form but they can should never write off character. Shikhar Dhawan is that character

Akshat Thakur

@iakshatthakur

@cricketaakash Shikhar Dhawan should be in India team hope he continues the form

@cricketaakash Shikhar Dhawan should be in India team hope he continues the form

Rajasthan Royals

@rajasthanroyals

Shikhar Dhawan today

997

86

Shikhar Dhawan today 💪😂 https://t.co/82SanbsGOd

supremo `

@hyperKohli

Underrated in IPL, underrated in ODIs, underrated in ICC events, underrated in Cricket talks - Shikhar Dhawan!

52

10

Underrated in IPL, underrated in ODIs, underrated in ICC events, underrated in Cricket talks - Shikhar Dhawan! https://t.co/hTMyOYfqI3

Bobbyverine🐺

@DebajitDey19

Its world cup year and Shikhar Dhawan is giving his everything out of him. Hope @BCCI is closely looking every move. He deserves to be in ODI squad for upcoming series in Westindies
#ShikharDhawan #bcci #ipl

4

1

Its world cup year and Shikhar Dhawan is giving his everything out of him. Hope @BCCI is closely looking every move. He deserves to be in ODI squad for upcoming series in Westindies
#ShikharDhawan #bcci #ipl https://t.co/cjgcQgM2RU

Sensei Kraken Zero

@YearOfTheKraken

Shikhar Dhawan ko lena chahiye world cup ke liye

5

Shikhar Dhawan ko lena chahiye world cup ke liye

​

JioCinema

@JioCinema

Mid-innings scorecard of the #SRHPBKS game where Shikhar Dhawan scored 99 out of Punjab's 143 runs

#IPLonJioCinema #IPL2023 #TATAIPL

25

1

Mid-innings scorecard of the #SRHPBKS game where Shikhar Dhawan scored 99 out of Punjab's 143 runs 😯

#IPLonJioCinema #IPL2023 #TATAIPL https://t.co/sB1F735N69

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“One of the best” – Shikhar Dhawan reacts to his one-man show vs SRH

Shikhar Dhawan was content with his exceptional knock against Hyderabad on Sunday. He called it one of his best knocks in the T20 tournament.

Speaking to the host broadcaster at the mid-innings break, Dhawan said:

“I am glad that the Hyderabad crowd still remembers me. I have played a few ones. This was one of the best, maybe."

The 37-year-old reckoned that Punjab can defend the total.

"It is good because I played till the end and the wickets were falling from the other end. So, we have got to a respectable total and given ourselves a chance," he added.

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Sunrisers Hyderabad Playing XI: Mayank Agarwal, Harry Brook, Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Washington Sundar, Marco Jansen, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Markande, Umran Malik, and T Natarajan.

Punjab Kings Playing XI: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Prabhsimran Singh, Matthew Short, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shahrukh Khan, Sam Curran, Nathan Ellis, Mohit Rathee, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, and Arshdeep Singh.

Follow SRH vs PBKS live score updates here.

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