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Shikhar Dhawan reported for suspect bowling action

Shikhar Dhawan smiles while given an opportunity to bowl on Day 4 of the Delhi Test

India’s Shikhar Dhawan has been reported with a suspect bowling action during the fourth Test against South Africa, which the hosts won in New Delhi on Monday. Dhawan has bowled a total of 54 balls in Test cricket, 18 of them in the Delhi Test.

The match officials’ report, which was handed over to the India team management, cited concerns about the legality of the 30-year-old’s off-spin deliveries.

Dhawan was brought on to bowl in the South African second innings on Day 4, with spin bowling threatening to end the partnership between Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers. Bowling with an action like Muttiah Muralitharan or even Harbhajan Singh, Dhawan bowled three eventful overs in an otherwise slow-moving Test.

Dhawan’s bowling action will now be scrutinised further under the ICC process relating to suspected illegal bowling actions reported in Tests, ODIs and T20Is. He is required to undergo testing within 14 days, and, during this period, Dhawan is permitted to continue bowling in international cricket until the results of the testing are known.

Dhawan bowled one maiden over, and gave away 9 runs, in an innings which also saw several other unfancied bowlers rolling their arms over – Murali Vijay bowled two overs, Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara too bowled one over each.

It has now been found out that Dhawan’s bowling action, which involves a breaking of the arm by a considerable degree, is in fact suspicious.

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