Debasis Sen, Antigua: Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan attributed his coming back to form to Virat Kohli. The Delhi opener scored a well made 84 runs against the West Indies on the first day of Antigua test match. He did not hide his disappointment though while talking to the media at the post days play. At the same time the left hander was happy to coming back to runs.
Dhawan and Virat Kohli put on a 105-run partnership for the third wicket to rescue the visitors. The Indian Test skipper went on to score an unbeaten 143 to guide the visitors to 302/4 at the close of day’s play.
The left-hander seems to have found his groove, with his knock coming off 147 deliveries and comprising nine boundaries and one six. Here are the excerpts from his interaction with the media :Dhawan, who has been long due for runs started vulnerably getting a thick edge off a short ball from Gabriel but survived only to flourish with a flurry of shots on the off-side.
Disappointment of missing out on a hundred
Felt sad and disappointed that I got out especially when I was set and scoring runs. had spent enough time in the middle and at the same time I am happy that I started on a good note and would like to carry on my good performances in coming matches.
On making a shuffle at his batting style
Yes I have brought that shuffle in my basics. I started doing that in IPL and I feel that it is working well for me at the moment and will keep doing it till the time it goes well for me.
On Kohli’s century
He has played a tremendous knock and scored a hundred and continued scoring. Hopefully he scores big runs and gets a double hundred after 150. It feels good to bat with him and we were rotating strike and scoring runs at a good pace. I feel that made a difference because we made the partnership in 120 balls or something. That is a good thing and it is always a pleasure to watch virat, the way he times the ball.
On his partnership with Pujara and Kohli
My partnership with pujara was also important because the ball was new at that time and it was important to leave the ball at that time. the middle order got benefit of that because the ball was older and my partnership with virat benefitted from that. We scored at good pace and it impacted the game and Virat has been batting really well which is not new.
Looking to bat only once
Too early to ask that, cannot say that, we would like to score as many runs as possible because turn might come in on second or third day.
On getting the backing of both Kohli and Kumble
I feel it is important for any player if the captain/coach are backing and it gives a lot of confidence and belief that you are team mates or captain or coach backs you. That’s what matters and you also need to have self belief that you can do that and it is a mixture of everything.
India in a strong position
We are in a good position especially because we are playing with only five batsmen. So we are in a good position and we will want to bat as long as possible tomorrow that will also tire them out. Good thing is we have virat set and batting, maybe he will score double and triple century.
On taking extra responsibility as an opener
I think opening is the toughest work and you need a big heart for it. new wicket, new ball and they bowl with full energy and as opener your technique should also be good because you have to leave a lot of balls and you need patience as well. Middle order needs it too but new ball has its own challenge. Vijay got a good ball, it was a very quick ball. I was luckier in that sense so Gabriel was bowling really well and with time you get that experience. Now I know better from past that which balls to leave and that is from experience and it helps improve the game and my shot selection. and it showed in the partnership with Pujara and Kohli.