There is life outside cricket too: Dhawan

FAMILY SUPPORT: Shikhar Dhawan in a playful mood with his son Zoravar and wife Ayesha Mukherji after Delhi's win over Jharkhand in the Vijay Hazare Trophy match in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Photo: K. Murali Kumar

For Dhawan, with four Test and eight One-Day International centuries, the important thing is to stay fit.

The line between a bad shot and a good one is thin. If it goes to the boundary it is hailed as good. If it travels to a hand then, obviously, it is bad.

Shikhar Dhawan views it differently. For him, it is just a shot. “The end result is the remuneration for your effort,” he smiles. It does. It can stall the team’s progress or propel his reputation high. It is all subjective.

“Sometimes you have to play cross-batted and take smart risks. I always back my shots. I know this particular shot gives me runs. It can also cost me my wicket.

“I have to accept it because only I know what is best for me. It is not that I am irresponsible because I get out playing shots,” said Dhawan, prepared to give his best on Australian pitches.

He does give the impression of nonchalance on being dismissed. “No. That is not me. I try to hit the ball by stepping out. I do it to unnerve the bowler.

“I like to make an impact with aggression. Rohit (Sharma) and I approach the task in a similar manner. But people say we appear lazy. We are not casual and certainly not reckless.”

Shades of Virat Kohli?

“I admire Virat for his self belief and amazing fitness. We look up to him. He is so grounded despite fame and success.”

For Dhawan, with four Test and eight One-Day International centuries, the important thing is to stay fit.

“My basics are strong and I know my preparations are also strong because I work on my skills all the time. You can’t do this unless you are fit. People miss this point.

“They mostly look at results and not the effort. I am improving and believe me I am at peace with the world. I laugh away my failures because that is the best way to deal with them.”

Philosophical world

When you delve deep, Dhawan lets you into his philosophical world, a zone where he is on his own, analysing his best and worst, joy and pain, anger and composure.

“When I get angry I used to speed on my bike. Slowly I realised the necessity to control my thoughts and anger. I don’t react to unpleasant gestures anymore. I have practised this art of remaining calm.

“I have learnt to be thick skinned if I have to excel at the crease. I have to let negative energy bounce off. It is true that cricket teaches you tolerance. I have learnt it.”

That sensational debut, 187 at Mohali against Australia, not a false stroke, not a frame of hesitancy, is vivid.

So is that weak moment when he got out second ball to Clint McKay at Visakhapatnam in an ODI in 2010. For the next 19 ODIs he just watched the play from outside.

“The pain of zero was replaced by the 187 against the same team. It has been a long journey and I have come to accept it as part of life. The beauty lies in adapting. Fine-tuning is necessary.

“Long career can be possible only with strong body and I concentrate on personal training, proper nutrition, meditation and look for inspirational quotes. At the crease deep breathing helps me tackle pressure.”

On a concluding note, Dhawan (30) analyses himself, “I criticise myself, appreciate myself; I am my best friend. I love cricket, but then I have learnt that one can be in love and still be detached.

“If I am dropped from the India team I can’t allow it to bring me down. It will hurt big time but then there is life outside cricket too.”