Shikhar Dhawan-David Warner: Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Indo-Aussie batting backbone

Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner put up 107 for the first wicket, with both of them scoring half-centuries, to help their side clinch their fifth win of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season against Kings XI Punjab in Mohali on Friday

Shikhar Dhawan continued his rich form in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this season with a 48-ball 73 as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) clinched a comfortable 26-run victory over Kings XI Punjab to pick up 11 points from nine matches and stay third on the table. (Match highlights)

Sunrisers Hyderabad cricketer Shikhar Dhawan (left) and captain David Warner are a formidable opening pair and their partnerships at the start of the innings have been crucial for the team’s success in the Indian Premier League (IPL), including the match against Kings XI Punjab in Mohali on Friday.(AFP)

Shikhar Dhawan, who has already aggregated 312 runs this season and is the fourth highest run-getter in the tournament, was supported by his captain David Warner, who’s second on the list. Warner scored 51 before being cleaned up by Kings XI Punjab skipper Glenn Maxwell, but the duo ensured their side got a good opening platform, from which they reached 207, batting first. (Match scorecard)

“If we’re talking about today I think we were playing more aggressive cricket and that was our plan,” Dhawan told iplt20.com. “In the last couple of games, we were playing well but our run-rate was a bit low. So that’s when we decided to go and play our shots and backed our abilities and it’s been good.”

Dhawan said that he and Warner knows each other’s game really well and that helps in the middle.

“I’m used to playing (with) David Warner now because I’ve been playing with him for two-three seasons now,” added Dhawan. “We know each other’s game and our running between the wickets is also very good. Today we both were attacking from both the ends. Usually when David takes on the bowling I sit back and the same goes with him. It was a good wicket and we both wanted to make it big and that’s what happened.”

Dhawan also brushed aside the usual right-left combination advantage, stating it depended more on the batsmen than their style.

“It doesn’t matter if the batsmen are right-handers or left-handers… If they’re playing well, it gets a bit difficult for the bowlers,” he said. “They even got on an off-spinner but we were in such a good touch that we played well. So it depends on a particular day. Of course, with a left-right combination, the bowler has to change his line and length and that creates a problem for him. But if he’s getting hammered from both ends then it is a bigger problem.”

Sunrisers haven’t been as dominant as they had been last season when they had lifted the trophy. They have already faced three defeats.

On being asked if the carnage from both ends was done on purpose on Friday to assert their intention to dominate, Dhawan said: “When it comes to team goal, we maintain that one of the top four batsman should stay on till the very end as if there’s one set batsman playing from one end it gives a huge advantage to the batting side.

“That’s what we plan and try to implement,” he added. “Once we reached 13-14th over, we knew we have to reach 200. We had a great start and it paid off as well because in the second innings there was a bit of dew and, of course, their batsmen were playing good cricket, especially Shaun Marsh and (Martin) Guptill, at the start. But it was a good score and that’s why we got the game.”

It was in Mohali that Dhawan made his Test debut back in March 2013 against Australia. Indian not only won that game by six wickets, Dhawan was also adjudged the Player of the Match for his prolific 187.

He, however, said that feat didn’t go through his mind as he took guard on Friday.

“Well not really, that’s something of the past. Of course, I have good memories with the Mohali ground but I stay in the present. I was just feeling good about myself and comfortable out there today.”