India in semi-final as Dhawan goes “dham-dhama-dham dham”

Shikhar Dhawan

By Kersi Meher-Homji
It seems happy days are here again for Indian cricket. Shikhar Dhawan’s batting in the Champion’s Trophy (CT) the last few days reminds me of Deepa dancing the old Bollywood number “Dham-dhama-dham-dham.”
He has played two CT matches so far in England and has hit two stunning centuries as a dashing dynamic opening batsman. After belting the South African attack for 114 off 94 balls with 12 fours and a six last week in Cardiff, he smashed the West Indian bowlers all over the park in London as he hit 102 not out off 107 deliveries, reaching his hundred with a six.
As Australia is struggling to win a match, the new-look Team India has stormed into the semis of the Champions Trophy (CT).
Imagine India without Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag,Gautam Gambhir, Cheteshwar Pujara and Yuvraj Singh winning matches with flair and finesse.
The new face of Indian cricket is telling the cricket world; move over super powers ”“ we are super powers!
Just look at the confidence of opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan, age 27, and spinning all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, 24. And not only at the ODI level but also at Test level.
Against Australia in the Mohali Test in March, the heavily moustached Indian opener Dhawan scored 187 in his Test debut. This was the fastest Test century on debut. So far he averages 187 with the bat in Test cricket with a Strike Rate of 107.47 and averages 216.00 in Champions Trophy at a SR of 102.37.
Jadeja has also excelled in the CT so far, taking 7 for 67 (including 10-2-36-5 against West Indies on Tuesday) at an average of 9.57 and at an economy rate of 3.57.
It is perhaps too early to judge them but the potential is there.
In the 15 year history of Champions Trophy, India has won the Trophy only once and that too only jointly with Sri Lanka. That was in 2003.
Will India win it this time? We will know on 23 June when the Final will be fought out in Birmingham.
But going on recent form, India looks favourites to win.

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