Shikhar Dhawan, the dynamic Indian opening batsman, has established himself as a crucial component of the Indian cricket team, particularly in ICC tournaments. Renowned for his stylish and aggressive batting style, Dhawan has delivered outstanding performances on the world stage, carving his name in cricket history. In this article, we explore Dhawan’s exceptional displays in ICC tournaments, emphasizing his ability to excel under pressure and rise to the occasion.
1. ICC Champions Trophy 2013:
Dhawan burst onto the international scene during the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy held in England. In this tournament, he showcased his immense talent and emerged as the leading run-scorer, accumulating an astonishing 363 runs in just five matches. Dhawan’s scintillating performances, which included a memorable century against South Africa and back-to-back fifties against West Indies and Pakistan, played a vital role in India’s title triumph. His aggressive stroke play and elegant shot selection allowed him to dominate the opposition, earning him the well-deserved recognition of being the Player of the Tournament.
2. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015:
In the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand, Dhawan once again demonstrated his prowess on the grand stage. Opening the batting for India, he amassed 412 runs in eight matches, finishing as the sixth-highest run-scorer of the tournament. Dhawan’s majestic stroke play and ability to provide solid starts to the team were instrumental in India’s journey to the semi-finals. His memorable innings included a magnificent century against South Africa, showcasing his capability to thrive against high-quality bowling attacks.
3. ICC Champions Trophy 2017:
Dhawan continued his impressive performances in the ICC Champions Trophy during the 2017 edition held in England and Wales. Once again, he rose to the occasion and showcased impeccable form, finishing as the tournament’s leading run-scorer. Dhawan accumulated 338 runs in just five matches, including a blistering century against Sri Lanka and consecutive fifties against Pakistan and South Africa. His contributions at the top of the batting order provided crucial momentum to the Indian innings and played a significant role in guiding the team to the final.