Shikhar Dhawan equals Virat Kohli and is now just the third player in IPL history: In PBKS’ second game of the 2023 season against Rajasthan Royals, Shikhar Dhawan played a fantastic innings to remain unbeaten at 86.
Shikhar Dhawan, the captain of Punjab Kings, had an outstanding performance against Rajasthan Royals in the team’s second game of the 2023 Indian Premier League, scoring a vital half-century.
Dhawan scored a solid unbeaten 86 in 56 balls, blasting nine fours and three sixes along the way, helping the PBKS to a massive score of 197/4 in 20 overs. Dhawan joined a select group of batters for a significant IPL accomplishment with his half-century score in Guwahati.
In the history of the IPL, only two hitters had amassed fifty or more 50+ scores; on Wednesday, Dhawan joined the exclusive club. By this point, David Warner (60) and Virat Kohli (50) had achieved the milestone.
As Prabhsimran Singh did the majority of the batting during the powerplay, Dhawan started his innings against the Royals slowly, scoring just 14 runs off of 13 deliveries.
In the very next over of the innings, the young batsman reached his half-century while Dhawan remained patiently waiting at the wicket. The PBKS captain changed tactics when Bhanuka Rajapaksa was hurt (he was struck by a shot from Dhawan) and Prabhsimran was dismissed from the game.
He mostly targeted Yuzvendra Chahal, a spinner (1/50), and eventually reached the half-century mark in 36 balls. Dhawan tried a superb switch-hit against Jason Holder during the game’s 18th over, and he ramped up the tempo after the fifty-run barrier, scoring the final 36 runs off the next 20 pitches.
At the Guwahati Barsapara Cricket Ground, Samson had earlier won the toss and chosen to bowl. Intriguingly, Riyan Parag, the Royals all-rounder who is from Assam, will be playing in his home stadium for the first time in the IPL 2023 during this match between RR and this team.
Both RR and PBKS won their initial games of the season. While Samson’s Royals destroyed Sunrisers Hyderabad by a score of 71 runs in their first game, Shikhar Dhawan’s PBKS upset Kolkata Knight Riders by a score of 7 runs (DLS method) on Saturday.
Also read:IPL 2023: Gurnoor Singh Brar joins the Punjab Kings