Year in Review: Top ten batsmen in One Day Internationals in 2013

7. Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan – Making up for lost time

There is a hint of arrogance in this lad from Delhi – the moustache notwithstanding. He has gone off the boil a bit towards the end of the year, but there is no denying the fact that Shikhar Dhawan is looking to make up for lost time.

Beginning with the Champions Trophy in England, where he and Rohit Sharma formed a rock-solid opening combination, the southpaw made the entire world sit up and take notice as he hammered world-class bowlers all over the park. Dhawan is a no-nonsense player who plays the game hard, and takes on the quickest of bowlers without batting an eyelid.

Upright in his stance and blessed with immaculate hand-eye coordination, Shikhar oozes confidence at the crease, and is undeterred by rising run rates or hostile seam conditions. In the second match of the seven-game series against Australia, his blitzkrieg 95 set a stable platform for Rohit and Virat Kohli to launch a blistering assault and chase down the mammoth target of 360.

His penchant for scoring runs remains undiminished to this day, and the 248 he made against South Africa ‘A’ showed ample proof of his abilities and supreme self-confidence.

The only direction Shikhar can now go is up!