Xtra Time Web Desk: India’s temporary white-ball captain Shikhar Dhawan on Saturday said that the team management in Sri Lanka would certainly try out players if regular skipper Virat Kohli or Head Coach Ravi Shastri has anyone specific in mind ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup few months away. The six-match series limited overs series against Sri Lanka will be the last opportunity to check out a few players for the available slots for the marquee event in the UAE, starting October 17.
“I haven’t had any specific discussion with Virat or Ravi bhai. But I am sure they must have had some sort of discussion with Rahul bhai and selectors and I am sure we would be conveyed that message,” Dhawan said in a virtual media conference ahead of the first ODI on Sunday.
“Whoever is playing this series, it is looking at T20 World Cup. Of course, if selectors, Ravi bhai or Virat have some players in mind, we can mutually agree and play that player as this is a good platform. If you want to see someone before World T20, this is the only series you have,” the veteran opener said.
Dhawan stressed there will be no compromise in the team’s goal to win the series at the expense of experimentation, he made it clear.
“The goal is to win series and the best playing XI will play. Whoever is best spinner will pay. There is no hard and fast rule that we need to play everyone,” he said.
While there was a question on spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal playing in tandem after a long time, Dhawan indicated that Rahul Chahar is also in the radar.
“Of course they (Kuldeep and Chahal) share a great chemistry. They have played so many matches, bowling really well. Even Rahul is a great spinner. We have a bunch of boys bowing well, they are on top of their game and you will see them bowling well,” the skipper said.
On being asked to compare playing under Ravi Shastri and now Rahul Dravid , Dhawan said, “They (Dravid and Shastri) both have their own qualities and they both are very positive people. I have spent time with Ravi Bhai (Ravi Shastri) and their ways to motivate are different.
“Ravi Bhai’s energy is a bit strong, whereas Rahul Bhai (Rahul Dravid) is very calm, composed and strong as well, so everyone has their own way and I enjoy playing under both of them.”