Can Dhawan do what Gambhir couldn't???

Shikhar Dhawan has been a consistent performer in the IPL. He has had very good seasons particularly in the last three years from 2016-2018 scoring 501,479 and 497 runs.

For the national team, he has been a vital cog in limited overs cricket, scoring over 5000 runs at an average of 44.62. His Test journey, however, has seen quite a few ups and downs. Although he has 7 hundred to his name, he has been inconsistent and has lost his place in the test team as a result of that. At the same time, when he got dropped during the test series, his form in One Day cricket also dipped and didn't produce the results expected of him in Australia and Newzealand.

During this time, a number of people questioned his spot for the world cup squad. However, he made a very good comeback in the recent home series against Australia, scoring a career-best 143 to put those doubts to rest. Hence, he will certainly be opening the batting for India in the world cup and will have an important role to play for India to reach the finish line.

After the Sunrisers Hyderabad decided to give him up to the Delhi Capitals, Dhawan will be delighted to play at home. In the previous season, the Delhi Capitals went for Gautam Gambhir as an experienced Indian opener. Gambhir after having a forgettable IPL 2018, has retired and hence now, they have gone for Shikhar Dhawan and they will be hoping that he can provide better results.

Shikhar Dhawan and the Indian fans will be hoping for him to have a good IPL season leading into the world cup.  After getting an important 43 in the first game against the Mumbai Indians, he has backed it up with a fifty against the Chennai Super Kings on a slow Delhi pitch. Getting runs in the IPL will not just help the Delhi Capitals, but also India in the bigger picture. Just as Dhawan is stepping into the role they expected of Gambhir for the Delhi Capitals, the Indian fans will be hoping for a Gambhir like performance from Dhawan at the world cup.