India's Shikhar Dhawan during third Test at Trent Bridge | Photo Credit: AP

New Delhi: A disappointing England show in the Test series has posed a huge question about Shikhar Dhawan's future in the red-ball cricket. Apart from Murali Vijay, Dhawan was the only other batsman for India to not have scored even a fifty in England with the left-hander averaging 20.25 in eight innings which were preceded by a pair in the Essex warm-up game. Dhawan's overseas record has never been boastful of itself and ergo, the question raises on whether he will be retained by the selectors for West Indies and Australia series. But Dhawan remained unfazed by the possible axe.

India had started with three openers in England series. And while Murali Vijay was sent back home for the final two matches after a disappointing start, Dhawan was dropped only once. His highest in the five-match series was a gritty 44 at Trent Bridge. But his stuttering performance in Southampton and Oval raised question marks on his future in Test cricket. Dhawan has never been the Gabbar in away Tests. He was earlier axed after first Test against South Africa. In fact, while at home he averages a rather impressive 44.37, an overwhelming 58.45 in Asia, the figures drop to 26.82 when he travels outside the subcontinent. In SENA Countries, he has so far amassed 774 runs in 30 innings at an average of 25.8.

AN OPINION - Shikhar Dhawan's England debacle: Is it the end of Gabbar in red-ball cricket?

Amid all these numbers, reports claim that he might be dropped for upcoming West Indies Test series where India will play two matches against the Caribbean country. But Dhawan seems unaffected by all, for he reckons that he did not perform well in England despite giving his best.

"I think it always helps when you perform well (irrespective of the form). Agar fayda hona hoga to ho jayega, nahi hona hoga to nai hoga (we will see if my current form helps me in Tests). Whenever I play, red ball or white ball, I utilise whatever knowledge I have of the game," said Dhawan ahead of Bangladesh final in Asia Cup 2018.

"If you talk about the England Test, I did not do well but I gave it all. Others played better than me. I accept it. There is no shame in it. Then I came here to play white ball cricket, had different plans because of different conditions. Sometimes they (plans) work sometimes they don't," the stylish left-hander added.

If Dhawan misses out on the series, Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal seem likely options to take the top spot alongside KL Rahul, who had scored a century at the Oval in the final game against England. However, Dhawan will remain a stronghold opener for India in limited-overs cricket, whatever the condition.

