‘Virat’s aggression makes us tick’

attacking: Dhawan

Chennai, August 3

India opener Shikhar Dhawan feels Virat Kohli’s “controlled aggression” rubs off on the team and makes it more attacking on the field.

Dhawan and Kohli have been friends for a long time and have played their Ranji Trophy together for Delhi. When asked about their friendship, the left-hander said: “It’s still the same, nothing has changed. It’s good that my captain has expectations from me; I hope I play consistently well for the team."

Talking about the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, Dhawan said it was going to be a good contest between the two teams looking to get better at Test cricket. “It’s going to be a good series. They have got a young side, and we too aren’t a mature Test side yet. So, it’s going to be a good competition."

Asked about the competition for the opening slot between him and KL Rahul, the left-hander said it was a good sign for Indian cricket. “It’s good that there is so much competition. Players put in more effort knowing there’s someone else waiting in the wings and you could easily lose your spot if you don’t perform. I take it positively and try to ensure that I give my best.”

Dhawan, who had scored the fastest debut Test ton, against Australia in 2013, said it was good to have batsmen who can score quickly in modern day Test cricket.

“In Tests, you also need players who can score quickly. It has become very important because sometimes scoring quickly helps the team get into a dominant position," he said.

“As for my own batting, I just try to keep it simple. If I get a good delivery, I defend it; if I get a loose ball, I try to hit it for maximum runs,” Dhawan said.

Asked about what his approach would be in Sri Lanka, he said it would depend on wickets and situation. “If there’s turn in the wicket, it will be difficult to play the spinner. You have to be more careful. You can't just go and play your shots on a track helping fast bowlers either,” he said.

"You have to respect the bowler when they are bowling well; every batsman has his own way of tackling spinners.”