NEW DELHI, May 14: Opener Shikhar Dhawan has asserted that he can very well take on the fast bowlers but at the same time conceded that he doesn�t want to face the innings� first ball whenever a pacer starts the proceedings.
Dhawan was responding to the not-too-flattering recent remarks about him by his opening partner Rohit Sharma and David Warner, his former team-mate at Sunrisers Hyderabad.
�No, no I disagree to that. It�s not like I don�t want to face fast bowlers. Everyone has their views, I am an opening batsman. I have done that role for India for eight years now, so obviously I play the fast bowlers,� Dhawan said during an Instagram live session with former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan on Wednesday.
�If I do not face them in the first over, then I eventually do in the second over,� he added.
While Dhawan has played many fine innings since making his India debut, it is his opening partner Rohit, who has emerged as the team�s batting mainstay alongside captain Virat Kohli.
He was candid about his unwillingness to take strike first up when a speed merchant is operating at the other end, calling it more of a �mental� thing.
�Yes, I do not like taking strike on the first ball of the match and I am honest about it but if any youngster like Prithvi (Shaw) comes in the side and he is not comfortable taking the first ball then obviously I would take the strike.
�But with Rohit, it started in Champions Trophy where I told him to take the strike and that sort of continued as I don�t like to change things much,� the left-handed batsman said.
The Delhi player said it�s a challenge for every opener to stand up to fast bowlers in seaming conditions.
�Of course if we play in England in seaming conditions, it is challenging for everyone, it�s not like I don�t want to face fast bowlers.�
Both Rohit and Dhawan have been opening for India since the Champions Trophy in 2013, before KL Rahul burst on to the scene.
During a recent chat, Warner and Rohit talked about the experience of opening with Dhawan. � PTI
