2013 in Review: Five emerging Indian cricketers

2. Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan

At a time where the nation had been mulling over the poor form of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, Shikhar Dhawan burst into the scene with a swashbuckling 187 in 174 balls against Australia in the Mohali Test. That innings scripted a dramatic welcome of an aggressive cricketer who swung his bat as effortlessly as he twirled his mustache.

He seemed determined to make up for lost time as he went on to smash two centuries in successive matches in the Champions Trophy, thereby setting up a brilliant partnership with Rohit Sharma at the top. With a penchant for hitting everything in the V to the stands and a picturesque follow-through, Dhawan assured the nation that they wouldn’t be missing Sehwag.

A destructive cricketer on his day, India heavily relies on him to provide the starts and lay the foundation for a massive score. The year-ending series in the Rainbow Nation may have taken a bit of steam out of him, but Dhawan admits that he has learnt from his mistakes and will only look forward to carry on his fine form.