Time for Shikhar Dhawan to stand up, says Sourav Ganguly

Opener Shikhar Dhawan has managed just 473 runs in 16 games at an ordinary average of 39.41 - way below the standards for a player of his calibre.

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Time for Shikhar Dhawan to stand up, says Sourav Ganguly
A file picture of Shikhar Dhawan in IPL 2016. (BCCI Photo)

Sunrisers Hyderabad opener Shikhar Dhawan has so far experienced a hot and cold campaign in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League. The aggressive southpaw has managed 473 runs in 16 games at an ordinary average of 39.41 - way below the standards for a player of his calibre. (Scorecard|Full Coverage)

Dhawan, who had a lean patch during the ICC World Twenty20 - scoring just 43 runs in four matches - was eyeing the IPL to make a solid comeback but has not been able to achieve the target. He has failed to score the runs in big matches, putting the pressure on SRH captain David Warner.

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On Friday, it was again Warner who scored a match-winning 93* off 58 balls against Gujarat Lions to see Sunrisers Hyderabad through to their maiden IPL final. (Also read: Here's how Warner, Bipul showed the door for Gujarat Lions)

Chasing 163 to win, SRH witnessed a turbulent start, losing Dhawan (0), Moises Henriques (11) and Yuvraj Singh (8) cheaply. But Warner kept Gujarat at bay, with his belligerent batting, completing his fifty in 35 balls - his eighth half-century of the tournament.

SRH will now face a red-hot Royal Challengers Bangalore in the final on Sunday and former India captain Sourav Ganguly feels Dhawan needs to rise up to the occasion for his team.

"Hyderabad have been outstanding this season. The influx of a couple of Indian players have helped them and don't forget, they don't have Ashish Nehra who is injured and out of the tournament. With Nehra in the squad, the bowling attack looked even better. They need some runs from Shikhar Dhawan. Time has come for Dhawan to stand up. He is a key batsman for India and it's a big tournament, big games. He missed out on the first qualifier, he missed out on the second qualifier. Hopefully in the final he will stand up for David Warner and his team and get some runs," Ganguly told India Today.

PHENOMENAL WARNER

While most of the Sunrisers batsmen cut a sorry figure last night, Warner showed his class and super cool temperament as he never let the innings fall apart. (Also Read: David Warner targets Virat Kohli in IPL final to defuse RCB's batting)

Wickets kept tumbling but Warner dug his heels and found amazing support in Bipul Sharma, who came up with a sizzling unbeaten 27 run knock under pressure.

"Phenomenal batting and specially under pressure. The other night it was AB de Villiers against Gujarat Lions and today it was David Warner. The other night it was the support of Iqbal Abdulla against the Lions and today it was Bipul Sharma.

"Warner is a serious batsman, look at his record in all formats of the game. He has been unbelievable for Australia. Some of the shots he played during the later part of the innings against those slower deliveries were terrific... captain standing up in the big game that speaks volumes of his temperament.

"He has taken Sunrisers on his own to the final, what else do expect from the captain. 93 off 58 deliveries. He has changed over the years, his temperament has changed. His family, his wife and runs at international level have made him a more matured person and I thought he was exceptional tonight," Ganguly said.

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IMPRESSIVE BIPUL

Youngster Bipul Sharma took the pressure off his captain with his timely big shots. His sixes off Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Dhawal Kulkarni played a crucial role in turning the tide in SRH's favour.

Bipul, who played for India A in 2010, always had batting credentials but last night he showed his worth as he added 33 runs with Warner in their unbeaten partnership for the seventh wicket.

Ganguly asked the selectors to keep a watch on the young all-rounder.

"I am equally impressed with Bipul to be honest. In the last game against the Kolkata Knight Riders he hit two crucial sixes off Morne Morkel and extended that run for the Sunrisers and yesterday under sheer pressure, he came in when they were 117 for 6 and took the game away from them. He hit some superb shots, that six off Praveen Kumar straight in front and then flicking Dwayne Bravo for a six fine leg and then hitting one of the most difficult deliveries from Bravo which is the slower off-spinner and that too being a left-hander he hit him straight into the stands.

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"I think this fellow is a good cricketer and the selectors need to keep a watch on him because the Indians need someone at No. 7 and Ravindra Jadeja's batting at international level has not been the best under pressure and I don't think he has done much with the bat in this IPL as well. This kid has done a wonderful job for the Sunrisers at No. 8, No. 9. So, somehow down the line they need to keep a watch on him."

THE FIZZ FACTOR

Ganguly said SRH need their strike bowler Mustafizur Rahman in the final against the batting might of RCB. Left-arm medium pacer Mustafizur (16 wickets) was ruled out in the match against Gujarat due to a hamstring injury.

"Sunrisers can give Royal Challengers Bangalore a run for their money. As I said, anybody can win on that day but the batting line-up of RCB looks very serious and I think SRH need Mustafizur. He is the key, I don't know what's his injury, I hope it's not too bad and is nothing to do with the hamstring and the calf because then he might be out of the next game as well. So, from that point of view he is important and hopefully they can get the team together," he said.