Rishi Dhawan reveals he is working towards increasing his pace
Rishi Dhawan could only manage to get a couple of opportunities in a struggling Kings XI Punjab side in the IPL. However, happier times were to follow when he found out about his selection in the Indian squad for touring Zimbabwe.
Speaking to PTI, the seam bowling all-rounder, however, did not express surprise upon being included. He felt, “I did not get to do much in IPL but I was expecting to be picked. I had done well in Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare. And I was confident that I will be rewarded for consistent performances in domestic cricket.”
A consistent performer in the domestic circuit, Dhawan found the transition to international cricket to be quite difficult. Often coming into bat with only a few overs left, he was unable to make an impression. With the ball, the right-armer gave away as many as 160 runs from 25 overs.
Reflecting on his experience, Dhawan noted, “The Australia experience taught me a lot. I picked up a lot of things just by watching how seniors train in the nets. There were times I felt the pressure and nerves and since then I have focused a lot on the mental side of the game.”
But, the lanky cricketer from Himachal Pradesh was unperturbed about that tour and looked forward to making an impact in Zimbabwe. He hoped, “Having said that, I gave my best in whatever chances I got and that I will try to do the same in Zimbabwe.”
Rishi also admitted that he was eager to improve his pace in order to become more effective. He enthused, “Last two months I have been working a lot on my bowling. I have made a conscious effort to increase my pace.”
Careful not to comprise on his swing, Dhawan affirmed, “The chats with Bharat Arun sir (former Indian bowling coach) in Australia also gave me confidence. Since swinging the ball is my strength, he just advised me to bowl in the good areas and do that consistently.”
When asked about Kings XI Punjab getting the wooden spoon for the second season in a row, he opined, “We could not get the combinations right from the start. T20 is a game of momentum and we were not able to get that momentum. We did play well in the last few games but overall it was disappointing.”
Crediting BCCI President Anurag Thakur who also hails from the same state, the 26-year old asserted, “He has already done a lot for Himachal cricket. We have all the facilities in the state and I see a lot of potential in the juniors.“