Opinion

I don’t react to criticism as I live in my own world: Shikhar Dhawan

Written by Abhishek Patil

Without an international hundred for the past six months, Dhawan announced his comeback with a career-best 143 against Australia in Mohali, albeit in a losing cause, in the fourth one-dayer on Sunday.

Asked how he reacts to criticism, the happy-go-lucky cricketer said living in his own bubble helps him keep it calm in the mind.

“First of all, I don’t read newspapers and I don’t take information which I don’t want to. So I don’t know what’s happening around me and I live in my own world. So, I decide in which direction my thoughts are going,” said the 33-year-old after the match.

“I perform best when I am calm. There’s no point in cribbing or being sad,” said Dhawan.

“When I feel hurt, I move on quickly. And I don’t really know what people are writing. I make sure that I am in a positive frame of mind and keep doing my process.”

Dhawan offered a sympathetic view on his junior statemate Rishabh Pant, who had a terrible day behind the stumps. The youngster, who replaced Mahendra Singh Dhoni for the last two games, was shoddy with his glovework and also missed an easy stumping chance.

“Like any other young bloke, you have to give him time too. I mean Dhoni bhai has played so many games and for how many years. You simply can’t compare.

“Yes, had he affected the stumping, maybe the game could have changed but then it slipped quickly out of our hands and for that, dew played a big role. That’s what it was,” he signed off.

About the author

Abhishek Patil