Shikhar Dhawan can do what Sehwag used to do for India, says Virat Kohli
Shikhar Dhawan's quick fire 173 against Bangladesh in the one-off Test has impressed captain Virat Kohli. In an after match interview, the skipper said that Dhawan can play like Virendra Sehwag at the top for the team.
"For Shikhar, we were always confident that if he gets going in Test matches, he can do what Viru paaji (Sehwag) used to do because he is one player who can turn the session around.
Hopefully, he will carry the confidence of this game into other series in future," said Kohli at the end of the fifth and final day's play in Dhaka.
Sehwag who last featured for India in 2013 has played 104 Tests and scored 8586 run at an average of almost 50. Bangladesh-India one-off Test resulted in a draw after rain-marred more than 2 days of play. But Kohli said that his bowlers gave 100 per cent whenever they got any space to deliver.
"This is the way we want to play cricket. Just that we had just two days of proper cricket. One good thing to come out is the intensity shown in bowling.
"Everybody bowled with a lot of intent. That's what we wanted to do as a team and we did that, so the credit goes to the bowlers who were willingness to do everything despite hot and humid conditions. There were no excuses and as a captain that was very pleasing," said Kohli.
Kohli was especially happy with the way things went for Harbhajan Singh and R Ashwin. He said that watching them bowl together is a treat for any captain.
"Both are quality bowlers. Bhajji has got more than 400 wickets and Ashwin has been bowling well for us in last one year. Watching them bowl together was exciting as a captain. I would like to have players who can win us games and both of them certainly have that ability," he said.
He added saying that it's good to have both the bowlers in form and their experience in the game add a lot to the team.
"I am very happy for Harbhajan, he has won so many games for India. He is a proven match winner and we know he can win us games at any stage. He bowled really well in this game.
"Ashwin is priceless. We won't get anybody better than him, he understands the game well and as a captain you don't have tell him much," said skipper.