Shikhar Dhawan hustles his way to a maiden IPL hundred

Shikhar Dhawan’s 101-run knock in 58 balls helped Delhi Capitals to clinch their seventh win of this season, by five wickets this time.

Amazing fact – Out of the 60 centuries scored in the Indian Premier League over 13 seasons, Shikhar Dhawan’s name was missing from the list. However, the Delhi batsman came out on the crease lunged a bit backward, only to pull Sam Curran off the Englishman’s third ball in this match.

Dhawan rushed to his century in 57 balls, striking at a 175.44 rate. He hit 14 boundaries against a single maximum to stamp his authority against three-time champions Chennai Super Kings. The Delhi Capitals studded lineup saw wickets falling at regular intervals, as Shikhar held one side of the pitch and anchored the game through. Needing 17 runs off the last over, MS Dhoni handed the ball to Ravindra Jadeja only to see Axar Patel go berserk and hit three sixes.

Shikhar Dhawan, the undisputed man of the match reached his 50 off 29 balls making it three in a row and once Dhoni dropped him on 51, the southpaw simply did not stop. Risk-free cricket, finding gaps and using his feet against the spinners was the highlight of another Shikhar Dhawan masterpiece.

Dhawan has 39 half-centuries against his name at an average of close to 34 in the IPL. The 34-year-old’s previous best in the IPL was 97 not out against Kolkata Knight Riders last year. However, with this century he adds one more feather to his cap.