Spirited Shikhar Dhawan could get hotter vs South Africa

Shikhar Dhawan en route his 79 v South Africa at Paarl on Wednesday. Pic/Getty Images

Having fallen out of favour in Test and T20I cricket, Shikhar Dhawan now only has the 50-over format to prove himself.

Despite losing the first ODI against South Africa at Boland Park, Paarl, on Wednesday, Dhawan, playing his first ODI in six months, emerged as the top-scorer for Team India with 79 off 84 balls.

Dhawan's selection for the SA ODIs is seen as the senior Indian opener's last chance to keep his place.

The southpaw, who scored 56 in five Vijay Hazare Trophy games last December, proved he still has it in him by putting up a powerful performance in the first ODI.

‘Happy to do well'

"There were always talk [about opening options]. I just concentrate on giving my best. With my experience, my self-confidence, I will do good. I am happy that I did well today [Wednesday]," Dhawan said during a virtual post-match press conference after India's 31-run loss.

"I stay calm. This is part of life, everyone experiences it.

There is nothing that is happening for the first or last time in my career," remarked Dhawan, who led India during the limited-overs series in Sri Lanka in July when other senior members were involved in a Test series in England.

Crucial partnerships

During the unsuccessful chase of 297 in the first ODI, Dhawan stitched two partnerships - a 46-run opening stand with stand-in captain KL Rahul and then a 92-run alliance with Virat Kohli (51).

Bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur hit an unbeaten 50 (5x4,1x6). However, a middle-order collapse derailed India's chase. "When you are chasing 300 [296], you [the new batsman] cannot go after the ball, it's not that easy. Losing wickets in a cluster impacted us in the game. I looked to play on the merit of the ball. It was not a typical South African wicket. When I got the flow, I looked to carry on," Dhawan said.