Delhi Daredevils, Mumbai Indians, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers HyderabadDelhi Capitals… and finally Punjabi Lands in Punjab…
Yes. I am happy to be a part of Punjab Kings, I am a Punjabi guy, so definitely the connection is already strong. Like Delhi, Punjab is also home. I have been fond of Punjabi songs since childhood. Being from a Punjabi family, I also speak this language. I believe the engagement with the fans is already there. Also, this is a good opportunity for both me and the team to make a strong statement in the IPL. We have a balanced team. We are going to have a great season.
Image Credits: Twitter handle of Shikhar Dhawan
What is the white ball approach you are taking right now? We have two very important back-to-back ICC tournaments…
T20 world cup is coming. I know if I do well in IPL, I can come into the team. I am a very process-driven person. I don’t set goals. To that end, I am enjoying my game – and when I say enjoying my game, I mean it from a fitness, sports and mindset perspective – if I am enjoying it on all these fronts , so this works best for me. And I’m in that space right now. So, I am making sure that my process is very strong, and I will automatically get what I need. I am confident of doing well in IPL. And if I do that, I will have a chance to make it to the World Cup squad. Maybe I will, maybe I won’t – only time will tell. But I will not let any of these affect my state of mind.
Is it possible for a professional player to continue performing without thinking about the ‘big picture’?
Yes, absolutely. Right now I am not in T20 team or Test team, but playing IPL is a good opportunity for me. I am earning good money. I have seen ups and downs while playing for the Indian team in the last ten years. There were times when I was about to be dropped from the team, I would get frustrated. I used to compete aggressively. But as I grew up, I let go of a lot of things. I don’t compete with anyone anymore. I have stopped following. When I started changing my thought processes, everything around me started changing. I now believe in contribution, not competition. I believe that things will always come to me if I am performing at a good level. And even if it isn’t, that’s fine. I see things very differently. When I was in DC, I did well and I was the highest run scorer in the team. But I was still not retained. Still, I thought there was some good in it. If I start seeing things negatively, it will affect me and the people around me. I tried to understand a little bit about psychology. It has made my life peaceful.
When did this happen to you?
Four, five years ago. I was at a high point in my life. I wanted the one who is competing with me to do well, but I should do better than him. This is a very common feature. But then I understand, whenever you start competing with someone, the other thing you compare. And when you compare, it brings jealousy. So, I went and changed it from competition to contribution. I made those internal changes in my head. So now, I have some clarity, and I’m confident about my plan. You can see, I have been so consistent in the last 4-5 years. I am very happy right now and enjoying my game.
Image Credits: Twitter handle of Shikhar Dhawan
So, for real fulfillment in a sportsperson’s career, do you think you need to reach a place like this?
Not just in sports, but in life. It is the art of living. What I was doing before was fine. I was working on my skills and my fitness, but I was not working on my emotions. Time has taught me to work on the emotional side of things. If he clicks, things will move on. Spiritually you get closer to what you are looking for. When I was little, I used to ask God to give me this or that, I don’t do that anymore. Now I am also filled with gratitude, abundance, love because the law of attraction works the same way. Mental energy and skill both work together. This is all part of my process now. I am very grateful to cricket because it has given me everything. I love it but at the same time I am different from it. So, whether I’m on the team or not, it doesn’t change my state of happiness. Life is bigger than cricket. There are many more things in life that we can appreciate. So, enjoy every part of it. So now this is my basic nature, which I have worked on. So you won’t see me react or fight with anyone on the field. I have trained myself this way.
We have seen videos of you playing the flute. Are you classically trained?
Yes I I have learned Raga Alankar. I started five years ago.
Why did you start learning?
When we are on tour, we have a lot of time. So, I thought of ways to make better use of that time. Whenever I got a chance to hear someone play it, I fell in love with the flute. So, I thought why not learn it. This is the age of technology, so I learned it online. Now I enjoy playing it.
You speak of inner peace and yet, the format you are playing (in IPL) and aspire to (T20 World Cup) requires a certain level of insanity…
I have a different point of view. You don’t need madness; You just need to be smart. It is a very strategy driven format. You always have to calculate in quick succession. You have to understand when to be aggressive and when to back down. A few years back, I knew that the one aspect I had to work on was increasing my strike rate. So, in the last two or three seasons, you can see a change in my stats. So, yeah, for that I need ‘madness’ and I carry it very consciously. You don’t want to be a liability on your team. So, I am doing what is required and if I get a chance, it is fine. If not, that’s fine too.
Image Credits: Twitter handle of Shikhar Dhawan
What is the most important aspect of T20 batting – hitting big on one side?
You need to know how to hit sixes and fours, but the important thing is to read the game in real time. You need to know who to hit and when to hit.
And then there is also the 2023 50-over World Cup…
I am eagerly waiting for this too. The procedures are similar. I just want to follow them. Nothing new to bring out of the book. I’ll just keep repeating and refining. And I know things will happen. I have never chased things in life.
It’s the 50-over format that you really mastered – quickening an innings…
Yes, the game of 50 overs has been good for me. I have good statistics there. However, I have also lost many centuries here. Actually, in the 50-over format, you get a lot of time and you can also play aggressively. I also have good Test and T20 records but my ODI record has been better and there are many reasons for this. You need to have good communication with your partner, like mine is with Rohit. I think he has mastered the format really well. You see they have turned 70s and 80s into centuries. That’s what I like about his ODI batting.
Image Credits: Twitter handle of Shikhar Dhawan
Tell us something about Rohit?
He is a gem of a person. He is cool, relaxed, smart and very friendly. That last bit (inaccessible) is his best quality. He reads the game very well. And he may be the captain now, but for those who know him, he is the same Rohit. He is a very helpful soul. And another good quality in him, even if he has something hard to tell you, he will tell you in a way that he won’t feel the same way once he has.
You are doing a great job off the field. tell us…
I believe a lot in service. So, I am opening a foundation called Shikhar Dhawan Foundation Pact 11. We are going to cooperate with 11 NGOs and provide them with funds. Through my foundation, I will help other foundations to complete education and health care.