Difficult situation, but decided to stay and play: India captain Shikhar Dhawan

After losing the T20 series to Sri Lanka, India captain Shikhar Dhawan on Thursday said that the team decided to keep going despite adverse circumstances. Dhawan indicated that India had the option of pulling out of the T20 series after losing nine players to COVID-19 related isolation. But he said that the side decided to stay and play the series.

“It was a difficult situation for us but as a team, we decided we will stay and play the series,” Dhawan said at the post-match presentation ceremony of the third T20. India lost the match by seven wickets.

Earlier this week, all-rounder Krunal Pandya had tested positive for COVID-19 after the first match. Eight other Indian players, who had come in close contact, had been ruled out for the remainder of the series.

India played the second and third T20 with six bowlers, as they had only five specialist batsmen available for selection.

Asked about what he learnt as leader of the side, Dhawan said: “Lots of learnings for me as captain. Last game was a close one. Today it was an off day for the batting unit but the boys will learn from it. We lost too many wickets today and the Sri Lanka bowlers bowled well.”

He said, it was always about playing catching up game after losing too many wickets. “When you lose early wickets and you don’t have a long batting, you are under pressure,” Dhawan said

He also applauded both sides for playing in great spirit.

Wanindu Hasaranga was adjudged the Player of the Match as well as the Player of the Series.

“The wicket was slow, and our spinners bowled really well,” he said.

“When I bowl, I always try to bowl dot balls. That helps in getting wickets. The fielding also helps. I am really happy because other boys played really well throughout the series, both in ODIs and T20Is.”