Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey

Why it is wrong to pick Shikhar Dhawan over KL Rahul in T20Is

Written by Sparsh Telang and Charbel Coorey

India’s drawn T20I series against South Africa in September 2019 was a bit of a roadblock in their preparations for the 2020 World T20. After all, they were the hosts, and despite missing some key bowling personnel, their top three alone had more T20I experience than the entire South Africa squad.

However, India, with their 5-0 series win in New Zealand in early 2020, went a long way to answering many of their questions. One of them was the much-thought about number four slot, which Shreyas Iyer made a great case to make that position his.

However, another talking point is the opening position; there is little reason to play Shikhar Dhawan over KL Rahul when T20I cricket is back underway, and this article will explain why.

Comparing both records

Shikhar Dhawan did have a passable series against South Africa in September 2019 and then against Sri Lanka in January 2020. However, Dhawan’s overall T20I statistics are quite mediocre.

Shikhar Dhawan in T20Is:

Innings – 59
Runs- 1,588
Average – 28.35
SR – 128.27
50s – 10
100s – 0

The 33-year-old has 10 half-tons in 59 innings, making it one in every 5.9 matches; not quite as prolific as should be the case for one of India’s finest ODI openers. At the same time, Dhawan doesn’t even have a breathtaking strike-rate to hide behind.

In fact, Dhawan has been a below-par batsman in the shortest format of the game for the majority of his career. Since 2013, Dhawan has never averaged above 25 in T20Is in a calendar year, except for 2018. In 12 innings in 2019, Shikhar Dhawan didn’t score a 50, with a very low strike-rate of 110.56.

Contrast this to KL Rahul. The Kings XI Punjab opener, of whom no player has more IPL runs since 2018, has a fine T20I record, boosted further by a superb run of form in late 2019-early 2020.

Innings – 38
Runs – 1,461
Average – 45.65
SR – 146.10
50s – 11
100s – 2

In contrast to Dhawan, KL Rahul’s average in a calendar year has never dropped below 36. Moreover, he crosses 50 in every 3.4 innings, with a terrific strike-rate to boot.

So, when Shikhar Dhawan missed cricket due to injury in late 2019 and India decided to rest Rohit Sharma in January, KL Rahul justified his fine record and took full advantage. His incredible run of form from the November series against Bangladesh through to the January/February series in New Zealand was highlighted by his superb ratio of half-century to innings, scoring six 50+ scores in 14 innings during this period. Overall, he slammed 562 runs in 14 innings at an average of 46.83 and strike rate of 143, surely putting to bed the idea of playing Shikhar Dhawan over KL Rahul when everyone is fit and raring to go.

Also read: Should India persist with KL Rahul in Test Cricket?

Alternative solutions, should KL Rahul not open

Beyond any doubt, KL Rahul is a superior option to Shikhar Dhawan in T20Is. It is quite extraordinary that one of India’s best T20I batsmen has been consistently in-and-out of the side. He indubitably should be a part of the eleven in the shortest format of the game, no matter be it in the middle-order, since batting position doesn’t affect KL Rahul’s class in T20s: He averages 41.15 whilst opening, 33.12 at No. 3 and 87.00 at No. 4.

Another thing that India might consider doing is sending Kohli to open at play KL Rahul at No. 3. In the last seven years in the IPL, Kohli has scored 3773 runs from exactly 100 innings – he hit more runs and more hundreds than any other player in the tournament. Out of the 100 innings he batted, 55 came as opener where he scored runs at an average of 52.21 and SR of 143.63.

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So, will it be KL Rahul to open the batting by the time the World T20 comes around? It would certainly be unfair to keep Rahul on the sidelines in T20Is before the tournament, and then have pressure placed on him to perform right away on the big stage.

However, it is in India’s best interest to have Shikhar Dhawan as a back-up opening batsman in the shortest format of the game. In terms of the numbers and ability, KL Rahul should definitely be preferred over Dhawan.

Written by Sparsh Telang and Charbel Coorey

Also read: Should India persist with KL Rahul in Test Cricket?