IPL 2021: This is the 2.0 version of Shikhar Dhawan – Aakash Chopra

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has heaped praise on Delhi Capitals opener Shikhar Dhawan. The southpaw has been in sublime form and he has batted at the top of his game in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League.

Dhawan scored an unbeaten knock of 69 runs off just 47 balls against Punjab Kings in the run-chase of 167 runs to take his team over the line by seven wickets and 14 balls to spare.

Chopra lauded Dhawan for batting according to the match situation. Dhawan has played a second fiddle whenever Prithvi Shaw has given a quick start to his team. Furthermore, Dhawan has taken the mantle of scoring quickly after the dismissal of Prithvi Shaw, which has given time to Steve Smith to get settled and find his form.

Dhawan is currently the Orange Cap holder with 380 runs in eight matches which he has scored with an impressive average of 54.29 and a strike rate of 134.28. On the other hand, Shaw has scored 308 runs in eight matches at an average of 38.50 and a blistering strike rate of 166.49.

“Shikhar Dhawan has activated beast mode. What we are seeing from him this year, we have generally not seen that. He tries to hit at the start if Pritvi gets out. If Prithvi is playing, he takes the back seat and allows him to hit,” said Chopra on his YouTube Channel.

“As soon as Prithvi gets out, he changes his gear. He allows Steve Smith to play at run-a-ball to let him regain his form. And he stays there for a long while, he tries his best to stay unbeaten till the end which does not happen every time,” added Chopra.

Chopra lauded Dhawan’s ability to play according to the match situation. Furthermore, the left-hander has scored his runs at an impressive strike rate and it has been a major difference in his batting. Dhawan had a paltry strike rate in the IPL till 2018 but he has been able to turn the tables in the last few seasons.

“His innings and his maturity, the way he has been batting, he is just sensational. This is the 2.0 version of Shikhar Dhawan, which started in the last IPL, with both the strike rate and consistency up,” said Chopra.

“The Orange Cap is on his head and the way he is playing, I feel no one will be able to snatch it away from him. Earlier mistakes used to happen in between, at times the start was slow but now he is pacing it so well as if he knows the pace of the game like the back of his hand,” concluded Chopra.

DC will next face Kolkata Knight Riders on 8th May at the same venue of Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.