Being defensive is not my natural game, says Shikhar Dhawan

Pallekele: He has hit a purple patch since his comeback into the Indian team for the Champions Trophy and opener Shikhar Dhawan attributes it to a distinct change in mindset, when put under the pump.

“When I experienced failure, I had a different kind of approach. I was more on the defensive mode but now I try to go and express myself out there and play my natural game. So that has worked for me. I try to back myself as much as possible,” Dhawan said at the post-match media conference.

Dhawan added 188 runs for the first wicket with K.L. Rahul, which is an Indian record.

“The wicket is bit on the slower side and doesn't have much of bounce on it. Rahul and I, we played very nicely.

“We got out playing shots. It was not as if we were getting out because of the track or anything,” Dhawan said.

Asked about his cracking pull-shot that was impressively pouched by rival skipper Dinesh Chandimal, Dhawan smiled and said: “I said jokingly that if you bat like a king, you should also get out like a king, you should not be dismissed like a soldier. If you have made runs aggressively, then you will get out that way too. That's how it is.

“I know I am an aggressive batsman so I would rather get out that way (pull to square leg) than getting out in the slips and being defensive because that is not my natural game,” he added.

Dhawan said that once they had reached 75 plus score, they were not talking to each other.

“When we were 75-80, we didn't talk to each other but each batsman talks to himself. He can see that 100 is not far away. Each batsman has his own plan on how to get there. Some like to do it in singles, with less risk. I know if I can hit a bowler, I go on that basis.