Shikhar Dhawan also praised Afghanistan side for the fighting back.
Indian batsmen Shikhar Dhawan (2R) and Murali Vijay (2L) (Photo: AFP)
Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan on Thursday credited Indian Premier League (IPL) experience for the success against teenaged Afghan spinner Rashid Khan in the visitors’ debut Test match.
Dhawan carried forward his IPL form in the one-off test against Afghanistan on Thursday as he hammered 87-ball century in the first session of the first day’s game and in the process, he became first Indian and sixth overall batsman to score a century before lunch on the opening day.
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On Thursday, viewers witnessed two SunRisers Hyderabad players (Shikhar Dhawan and Rashid Khan) battling against each other. Dhawan struck eight fours and a six in his 107-run innings and later said IPL experience helped him in the battle.
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“The good thing is that I had faced him [Rashid Khan] in nets for two years because we play for the same team in the IPL. So, I was used to his bowling and that helped me,” said Dhawan at the post-match press conference.
“See each one will have different game,” Dhawan said, adding, “a team is formed of different characters – I am a different character, my game is different to what Vijay’s is. Each player has his own qualities. Some people like to step out and play and some others don’t prefer that. Each individual has his own game and play accordingly. My strength is to step out and play and I play accordingly.”
Shikhar Dhawan also praised Afghanistan side for the fighting back.
“Yeah, they came back very well in the last session. They are playing their first game, I am sure they are going to learn a lot of things. They are going to go a long way,” he said and quipped, “Of course, Rashid is a top-class bowler and I enjoyed my battles with him. Since I dominated [this one] I enjoyed it but as I said, he is a great bowler,” Shikhar concluded.
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