Shikhar Dhawan not in India's T20 World Cup plans, says Sunil Gavaskar

Legendary Sunil Gavaskar does not expect Shikhar Dhawan to be a part of Team India's T20 World Cup plans.

The ICC event is scheduled to take place later this year in Oct-Nov in Australia. Gavaskar believes Dhawan's T20I career might be all but over. The opening batsman captained India last year in the covid-affected three-match T20I in Sri Lanka , but has not featured in the shortest format since then on the international level.

Even in the absence of incumbents KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma for the recently-concluded T20I series against South Africa, the selectors opted for the likes of Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad over Dhawan. As the five-match series ended in a 2-2 draw with the decisive fifth T20I washed out by rain in Bengaluru, Kishan finished as the leading run-scorer. The 'keeper-batsman scored 206 runs at an average of 41.20 and strike rate of 150.36.

With Dhawan not even picked for the two-match T20I series against Ireland, Gavaskar believes the 36-year-old batsman will not feature in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

"No. I don't see his name popping up," a blunt Gavaskar told Star Sports, talking about Dhawan.

"If it had to pop up, it would have been in this squad (to play Ireland). A lot of guys have gone to England and he could have been in this squad. If he is not in this squad, I don't see him ending in the mix (for T20 World Cup)," the former India captain added further.

Dhawan has scored 1,759 runs in 68 T20Is at an average of 27.92 and strike rate of 126.36. The left-handed batsman had a fine run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as he scored 460 runs in 14 games for Punjab Kings (PBKS). He recently became only the second batsman after Virat Kohli to surpass the 6,000-run mark in the Indian T20 league.

With the likes of Rohit, Ishan, Rahul, and Gaikwad, India already have a headache for the top order. In addition, the management is also considering Kohli for the opening position, considering the 33-year-old batsman's amazing record Down Under.

However, Gavaskar has picked Rohit and Rahul as his preferred opening pair for the ICC tournament.

"My opening combination would have KL Rahul if he's fit, and Rohit Sharma alongside him," said Gavaskar.