Shikhar Dhawan’s return to form was important before Australia tour: Rohit Sharma

India’s stand-in skipper Rohit Sharma said that Shikhar Dhawan’s return to form was important right before the series against Australia, which he feels would be a “different ball game”.

Dhawan has had a tough time of late with the bat. In the ODI series, he struggled to make an impact despite the repeated opportunities he got. But he came up with an explosive innings of 92 runs from 62 balls as he guided the team to a guided the team to a victory in the third and final T20I, which capped off the whitewash for the visitors.

The left-handed Dhawan stitched a 130-run stand with the young Rishabh Pant (53) which set the tone for the chase after they were jolted early with two quick wickets.

“It was important from the team’s perspective and for the players to get some runs ahead of the important Australia tour. Shikhar especially was batting well in the ODI series but he was not able to get big scores. I am glad that he could play a match-winning knock and get some form under his belt before the crucial tour,” said Rohit, as quoted by PTI.

“Rishabh was also hungry to go out and get some runs. It was the perfect situation. We were two down inside the first six overs. There was a bit of pressure as well. They handled it well and it was a match-winning partnership. It is important in the team’s perspective that both these guys got runs,” the stand-in captain added.

Adding that the conditions in Australia would be tough, Rohit said, “It is always challenging when it comes to going out there and performing. Every time you go there, you are tested as a player, as an individual and as a team. Australia will be a different ball game.”

He also said that this series win against the Windies would give them a lot of confidence going ahead into the tour of Down Under.

“When you win a series like this, you are high on confidence and it is all about taking that confidence there. We have to keep repeating the performances. It is a never-ending story,” he stated.

Rohit also has earned a call-up to the Test team for the four-match series that is set to begin after the T20I affair.

“I think there is still time before that. We have the T20Is and practice games before the first Test match. I am not thinking about the Test match. I am someone who doesn’t think too far ahead. All I am thinking of is going back, taking a few days off, and take the flight to Australia and prepare for the T20 series,” he added.

The three-match T20I series between India and Australia begins on November 21.