Shikhar Dhawan got off to a slow start in the 2020 Indian Premier League as he was struggling to get past 20s and 30s in the opening games for Delhi Capitals. Since Dhawan also had a slow hit rate in early games, there were even suggestions that he could be replaced by Ajinkya Rahane. But all those doubts have been dispelled when Dhawan, the destroyer, arrived in the United Arab Emirates.
In the last four games, Dhawan has crushed two fifty-two hundred. He became the first player to reach consecutive hundreds in IPL history after he broke an undefeated 106 against Kings XI Punjab in DC’s previous game.
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In a recent interview with the ANI news agency, Dhawan revealed how a chat with head coach Ricky Ponting about his slow starts gave him confidence that he was on the right track.
“Ricky Bhai said he was hitting well and knew he wanted to play a little bit fast. I also had a discussion about that with him. I was happy with the 20s and 30s because they were shocking.
“What matters in the T20s is the importance of those 30 races. I thought I was playing the starter role. By the time I turned fifty, I gained confidence and then, by God’s grace, I wrote down the centuries, ”explained Dhawan.
“If I keep thinking of scoring centuries, I will be overwhelmed. My idea is to go out and do my best. If I do my best, the rest will follow. That also helps keep me mentally light. Why should I raise my expectations? “Dhawan further added.
“Going into the first games of the season, I wasn’t fifty or anything, so 500 races in the season seemed like a distant dream. But I have been scoring 500 in the last few seasons, so instead of using it as a pressure scenario, I looked at it positively and thought it is good if I make it, otherwise I will try to do my best for the team.
“The idea is to keep it simple and disciplined. Simple is not as simple as it seems, you also need to be mentally strong, ”concluded Dhawan.
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