Shikhar Dhawan. (Picture Credit: X/@ANI)
Dhawan has added 5148 runs for the first wicket in 115 ODIs for India with Rohit Sharma after opening for the first time together during the Champions Trophy in 2013.
Senior Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan has reserved big praise for the Indian captain and his favourite opening partner, Rohit Sharma, by calling him a gem of a person. Dhawan, who made his international debut for India on October 20, 2010 against Australia during an ODI match in Visakhapatnam, has opened with Rohit in 115 ODIs for India, and the duo have added 5148 runs together, which is enough to make them the fourth most successful opening pair in ODIs.
The duo opened for the first time in the 2013 Champions Trophy, which India won under MS Dhoni’s leadership. During a Star Sports show, Dhawan, who hasn’t played for India since December 2022, was asked about his favourite opening partner, and in reply, he mentioned Rohit’s name.
According to him, he has a very strong bond with Rohit.
“My favourite opening partner is Rohit. Rohit ke saath to maine yaar 8–10 saal opening kari hai. Rohit ke saath mera bond bhi bahut strong hai. He is a gem of a person. Uske saath bohot opening kari hai,” Dhawan said.
Dhawan’s record for India
In his 14-year-long international career for India, Dhawan has played 34 Tests, 167 ODIs, and 68 T20Is and has scored 2315, 6793, and 1759 runs, respectively. He holds the record for scoring the most runs by an Indian batter on Test debut and is the 10th leading run scorer in ODIs for the Men in Blue. He was dropped from the ODI team after a flop show in 2022.
Rohit in red-hot form
On the other hand, Rohit has been in red-hot form these days. He finished as the leading run scorer for India in the T20 World Cup 2024 in June and also top-scored in the first ODI against Sri Lanka, which was played on August 2 in Colombo. He will be in action on Sunday again during the 2nd India-Sri Lanka ODI and will have a chance to break multiple batting records. If he manages to score two runs in the second match, then he will become India’s fourth-leading run scorer in T20Is.
In addition to that, he can also break Chris Gayle’s record of 331 sixes in ODIs. Rohit, who has 326 sixes to his name, needs six more maximums to go past the former West Indies captain’s tally.