In an exclusive chat with IANS, former Team India cricketer Shikhar Dhawan recently opened up about his deeply personal autobiography, titled ‘The One’, where he revealed the toughest bowlers he faced in his career. Dhawan named former South African pacer Dale Steyn and England’s James Anderson.
“Dale Steyn was always a tough one — he had raw pace, aggression, skill, and that fierce look! James Anderson too. As for sledging, it’s part of the game. Sometimes, it’s the sledging that brings out the best in you,” he said.
During the same conversation, Dhawan was also asked about Team India’s performance in the ongoing England Test series. In response, he congratulated the entire team for their historic win at Edgbaston and praised Captain Shubman Gill for his outstanding performance, along with Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj for their support.
“First of all, I’d like to congratulate the entire team for winning at Edgbaston after 58 years — a phenomenal achievement. The way the boys bounced back in the second Test showed real character and resilience. Shubman Gill led from the front with outstanding knocks of 269 and 161, brilliantly supported by Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep with the ball, especially in the absence of Bumrah,” he said.
Dhawan added that, although India lost the first match, there were many positives to take from it — including five centuries on English soil, which he called phenomenal. He also praised Jasprit Bumrah’s performance with the ball in that game.
“Even in the first Test, though we ended up on the losing side, the performance was full of positives. Gill scored a solid 147, while Rishabh Pant was exceptional with twin centuries — 134 and 118 — showing great maturity and adaptability in English conditions,” he said.
“KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal also chipped in with fluent centuries, laying the foundation for a strong batting display. Scoring five centuries in a single match on English soil is no small feat. Jasprit Bumrah was equally impactful, picking up a five-wicket haul and keeping the English batters on their toes,” Dhawan further added.
He also applauded the team for learning from their mistakes in the series opener. “The team clearly learnt from the first match and came back stronger in the second. Both Tests so far have been exciting and full of quality cricket. Now it will be interesting to see how England responds. After the second Test, the pressure seems to be shifting — and that’s a great sign for India moving forward,”
Dhawan said.
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