Shikhar Dhawan is currently out of any contention of making a comeback in Team India. However, the 2023 ODI World Cup is approaching and now, as per quoted by the Apex Council of Cricket, he picked up his dream five players for the upcoming mega event in India. He picked two of his Team India teammates, one player from Australia, Afghanistan, and South Africa each.
Dhawan took the name of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Mitchell Starc, Rashid Khan, and Kagiso Rabada. But, some fans were left surprised to see him not taking Pakistan skipper Babar Azam’s name as he has been doing great in the International arena for the last few years. Especially, in the ODI format, Babar has managed to hold that top spot in the list of the best batter rankings. Hence, fans shared their views on social media in response to that.
Shikhar Dhawan picked no players from Pakistan
Meanwhile, Dhawan also heaped praises for both Kohli and Rohit. He also claimed the former Team India skipper as the best batter in the world. Dhawan said: "The first (picked) is Virat of course. He is the best batter in the world and has been scoring runs like crazy." Then, regarding the current Team India skipper, he said: "Rohit is a very experienced customer. He has scored lots of runs in major tournaments and bilateral (series) and he's a proven player (on the big stage)."
Dhawan called Starc, one of the best bowlers in the world while claiming Rashid Khan to be more suited this time around in the sub-continent conditions. He said: "I'll go for Mitchell Starc as he is one of the best fast bowlers (in the world). The fourth player will be Rashid Khan with his mystery action. I am sure he'll be very, very impactful (in India) and will take lots of wickets."
He even shared the reason for going with the Protea pacer Rabada over the Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi. Dhawan said: "Shaheen Afridi I wouldn't take because then there would be two left-arm pacers, so I'll go for Rabada. Rabada has that extra pace and extra bounce that is going to rush the batters."
Here is how fans have reacted:
Babar azam?
— Bemba Tavuma 2.0 (@PabloEs58765418) August 21, 2023
Dhawan, rohit,virat trio is one of the best in world
— Ganesh (@ganeshkatakam12) August 21, 2023
Selfless Gabbar 💔
— シ︎𝕏 (@Trypanren_Madam) August 21, 2023
Why he doesn't pik any pakistani player because of jealousy 🤣🤣💪
— Rafaqat (@rafiikh0786) August 21, 2023
Hope Virat scored lot of runs in asia cup and world cup 🤞
— Srinath_18 (@Srinath26541) August 21, 2023
Really Rohit 😂😂😂
— s_b13 (@BhandageShankar) August 21, 2023
We miss this trio
— sohit (@paneerpulao) August 21, 2023
Wikhar Whawan 💪
— Vengeance (@chujjwal36) August 21, 2023
Gabbar is ❤
— SHIVAM⚡🚩 (@act_yash) August 21, 2023