Dhawan up for another tie

Shikhar Dhawan wants to make today's warm-up tie against England a special one - for his team and wife Ayesha too.u00a0The Delhi left-handed batsman is part of a Mumbai ‘A' team that is up against the tourists in a three-day tie at the DY Patil Stadium.

Shikhar Dhawan warms up at the DY Patil Stadium in Nerul yesterday. PIC/Sandeep Pangerkar

Dhawan, who missed the first warm-up tie (for India ‘A') against England at the Brabourne Stadium due to his wedding, wants to make the most of his opportunity to impress the selectors. "This is my first game against England. I am eagerly looking forward to it. I haven't taken a break after the wedding.

My wife isn't complaining since she is a sports lover. She will accompany me for my matches. I would like come up with a special performance in this match as a wedding gift to my wife," Dhawan said on match eve.

He has been on a roll ever since India ‘A' toured the Caribbean in June. He scored 99 not out, 152 and 61 in the NKP Salve Challenger Trophy before notching up two centuries (101, 121) and a fifty in the Duleep Trophy for North Zone.

"I have worked very hard on the mental aspect. I read the game better now and observe other players closely. I credit my failures, because, had I not failed, I wouldn't have understood what I lacked. Inputs from Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag have really helped too. They have advised me to stay at the wicket for long. I try to pick up things from various players and inject it into my game," said Dhawan, who has played five ODIs and a T20 International.u00a0