PremiumShikhar Dhawan pens heart-warming message after ODI World Cup 2023 exclusion
The player who had received the ICC Player of the Tournament award twice did not represent India since December 2022.
Last Updated: 09.15 PM, Sep 06, 2023
When BCCI announced the team for the upcoming ODI Men's World Cup in 2023, fans already knew that Shikhar Dhawan wouldn't be in it. So, when the news came out, it wasn't a surprise to many. But it was still disappointing to see one of the best batters not making it to the 15-player squad.
Despite his significant role as a key player for the Men in Blue, Dhawan did not make the final selection. However, instead of harbouring any resentment, the opener showcased remarkable sportsmanship by extending his heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the chosen players.
The two-time ICC Player of the Tournament took to X (formerly known as Twitter) and praised the players who made it into the World Cup 2023 squad and also sent his best wishes to his fellow teammates.
"Congratulations to my fellow teammates & friends chosen to represent India in the WC 2023 tournament! With the prayers and support of 1.5 billion people, you carry our hopes and dreams. May you bring the cup back home and make us proud! Go all out, Team India! #ChakDePhatte #WorldCup," Shikhar wrote.
It's worth noting that Dhawan hasn't been a part of Team India's plans for the past year as he hasn't played since December 2022. Recently, Ajit Agarkar, the chairman of selectors, discussed Dhawan's future during the press conference where they announced the Asia Cup 2023 squad.
Agarkar said, "Rohit is a great player, Shubman has had an outstanding year, and Ishan Kishan is another talented player. Shikhar has been fantastic for India. Right now, three players are performing well, and we can only select 15. Currently, these are our preferred openers."
Meanwhile, Indian captain Rohit Sharma addressed the issue of players who didn't make it to the World Cup 2023 squad. Sharma emphasized that the selection committee thoroughly considered all available options before finalizing the fifteen players. Despite the disappointment, Sharma encouraged the players who missed out to stay positive and patiently wait for the right opportunity.
India squad: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya (VC), Shardul Thakur, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav.