Back in the December of 2013, when India toured South Africa, Shikhar Dhawan did not make what anyone would call a positive impression.
His form in both Test matches was poor. And his two one-day innings ended rather predictably: done in by a Morne Morkel bouncer in Johannesburg; caught trying to slash Dale Steyn over point in Durban; scores of 12 and 0.
The next time South Africa’s two rampaging fast bowlers met Dhawan again was in Melbourne on Sunday. Images from this innings will perhaps remain in their memories a little longer: the bouncer from Steyn that he ramped over the wicketkeeper’s head; or the full delivery from Morkel that he whipped over the fine-leg boundary, having walked across the stumps; or the numerous flailing cuts through point.
When he feels good about his batting, Dhawan lets the world know about it.
In two games at the World Cup, he now has scores of 73 and 137. Against Pakistan a run-out brought the curtains down on his innings, or he might have gone on.
Seventh tonSunday’s century was Dhawan’s seventh and perhaps a little different from his previous efforts. His fifty took 70 balls and his hundred 122. “I knew that their first three bowlers were very good,” he said at the presentation ceremony.
“I wasn’t worried; I was just relaxed. I knew that once I was set I could bring the run rate up again.”
Crucially, though, Dhawan carried on to a career-high 137 and allied with Ajinkya Rahane in a splendid stand that swelled the total.
“It’s important if you get a hundred that you are able to score 130 or 140; you see the team getting extra 20 or 25 runs,” M.S. Dhoni said later.
“It was good on his part to make sure he stayed until the end because the general tendency is for openers to play big shots after the 25th over. They think their job is over.”
What, then, has changed? How did Dhawan, the hapless, prodding, jabbing liability of the Test and triangular series, turn into a match-winner at the World Cup?
Dhoni said he had spent a lot of time in the nets. Dhawan appeared to have worked on his issue with balls outside the off-stump; it still remains a weakness but there is visible improvement. Of course he could have been out on 53, caught at point cutting, but Amla dropped him and Dhawan offered no more chances.
Team’s faithThe greatest factor, perhaps, is the continued faith the team has shown in him. Both Dhoni and Ravi Shastri, the team director, have endorsed him publicly and in private he must have been told that his place was not under threat.
There was no point in dropping players, Dhoni said later, after having invested so much in them over the previous two years. At the height of his confidence, Dhawan can be a joyful, irresistible force.
In the Champions Trophy two years ago, he strung together a splendid run of scores as India marched to the title. Every time Dhawan has scored a hundred, India has won. If your opener makes big runs, the team generally stands a good chance of victory — elementary, really.
“I never got afraid or troubled when runs were not coming off my bat,” Dhawan told the BCCI website.
“I tried my best to stay calm during that phase. I always had the belief that the tough days will be followed by the good ones. I feel the calmness in my temperament has reflected in my batting.”
Calm is not the word South Africa’s bowlers will employ to describe the last phase of his innings but within, Dhawan will admit, there is no disquiet.
