Sometimes all it takes is just one innings to silence your critics and win back your fans! Shikhar Dhawan is enjoying one such moment, after his blazing knock of 137 runs against the feared South African pace attack.
But while India goes gaga over Dhawan’s amazing knock, he had actually taken guard in Sunday’s match with just one intention: to drive India to their first victory against South Africa in a World Cup match.
“It is an amazing feeling to get a 100 in your first World Cup. But more than anything, it gives me immense happiness that we beat South Africa for the first time in the World Cup. They are one of the best teams in the world and it gives you big satisfaction to beat the big sides in the competition” Dhawan told bcci.tv.in after Sunday’s game.
However, it was not all rosy for the southpaw a little while ago. Coming into the tournament with a lean patch behind him, Dhawan had to fight a few demons in his mind and stay focused on his game. “It feels great to be back in form. I have been waiting for this moment since past three months. I tried my best to stay calm during that phase. I never got afraid or troubled when runs were not coming off my bat. I always had the belief that the tough days will be followed by the good ones” said the centurion.
Apart from his amazing temperament, what held the key to the match were his two crucial hundred plus partnerships with Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane. “We had an aim to build partnerships at every stage of the innings and we achieved that”, added Dhawan.
The strategy seems to have worked very well and could be India’s key in the World Cup 2015.