Former Pakistan skipper Salman Butt has backed veteran opener Shikhar Dhawan for the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023. In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Butt said that India will require the services of an experienced campaigner like Dhawan. Butt, who was also an opener, said that the Delhi cricketer should open for India in an ICC event of such importance.
Dhawan is known to be a big match player and has even been called ‘Mr. ICC’ in the past for his performances. Dhawan was India’s highest scorer in the Champions Trophy in 2013 and 2017, as well as the World Cup in 2015.
| ICC Tournaments | No. of Matches | Runs | Average | Centuries |
| Champions Trophy 2013 | 5 | 363 | 90.75 | 2 |
| World Cup 2015 | 8 | 412 | 51.50 | 2 |
| Champions Trophy 2017 | 5 | 338 | 67.60 | 1 |
| World Cup 2019 | 2 | 125 | 62.50 | 1 |
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The last ICC event India won was the Champions Trophy in 2013. The decade-long drought at ICC events and lack of experience at the top could cost India. Butt, therefore, has backed Dhawan as his number-one choice to open in the World Cup 2023. The former Pakistan opener also said that either Rohit Sharma or Shubman Gill could open with him.
“They will need Shikhar Dhawan on top. I don’t see any of the top-order batters, among right-handers, who can open as good as him. Either Shikhar and Shubman can open and Rohit comes one down, or Rohit can open with Shikhar,” said Salman Butt on his YouTube channel.
However, Shikhar Dhawan’s return to the ODI side for the World Cup seems implausible. With Ishan Kishan in red-hot form as the backup opener and guys like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad next in line.
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