India's opening combination - an issue that needs to be addressed?

With less than 3 months left for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, Team India looks quite confident as a unit and are among the top contenders to lift the trophy. This year, right from the beginning, India has been playing limited-overs format and are doing exceptionally well in all the departments.

Team India is proving their mettle in each of the departments. The team looks to be in a great composure and space. This team contains a well graded mixture of crafty, quality and experienced players. Yet there are some points on which the team needs to ponder upon as these are serious threats looming over their future probability to win the tournament.

The concern of No.4 slot is well documented and is a major point of discussion. But, along with this, the new issue of the opening combination also poses a threat for the team.

Shikhar Dhawan

Since the last 6 years the opening combination of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan have invariably given their best . They have given India flying starts which has helped India win matches numerous times. They have delivered as and when it was needed especially in big tournaments like World Cup and Champions Trophy. They have redefined the record books and have scored runs in bulk. But, if you go by the present form, these numbers have dried up and rarely we get to cherish those old gold partnerships between the two.

Since the start of 2019, Rohit Sharma has scored 405 runs in 11 innings at an average of 36.8 which is considerably alright, but if you look at Shikhar Dhawan's stats then it says that he has scored 265 runs in 11 innings at a mere average of 26.5 which clearly indicates that the left-hander is not in a great touch.

Most importantly, out of all limited over matches played in this year the duo had got only one 100+ partnership in Mount Maunganui which speaks the intensity of pressure on them to do well as soon as possible.

Now, the question arises whether Shikhar Dhawan deserves to get more chances, for him to fancy in the World Cup starting from May 30. Shikhar Dhawan has been having a scarcity in the number of runs he has been scoring since the last tour to England in 2018. He had a forgettable tour in England, then he was in a sublime form during the Asia Cup but again his form dipped after that.

He didn't have a great series against the Windies and then in all the tours of Australia and New Zealand he had scored runs below par. In addition to this KL Rahul had also found his rhythm once the T20Is were started and thus the alarming bell for Shikhar Dhawan has now become even more louder.

But, as he is said as the man of big tournaments, he should be trusted and should be given enough opportunities to polish himself and regenerate his form. An event like World Cup where experience plays a vital role in winning matches, India does not have too many options to look here and there and have to stick with Shikhar Dhawan now.

With just couple of games left for Team India in their bag before the World Cup they have to sort out all their issues and need not experiment too many things before their final assignment. On the part of Shikhar Dhawan, he will now have a great amount of pressure to perform and he will have to do so as does not have much game time left to regain his form.

One hopes that Shikhar Dhawan regain his form very soon and continue his purple patch in the ICC Tournaments and will help India perform well in their upcoming projects.