Shikhar Dhawan, whose name has certainly faded from the international stage, especially after 2022, played for India against Bangladesh in December of that year. However, after that match, there were no signs of his return. When it comes to the IPL, we saw Dhawan’s inconsistent performances over the last three to four years, but he did have a few good outings. His injury became a major concern and was the main reason why he didn’t feature in most of the PBKS games in the 2024 season, where he played just 5 matches and scored only 152 runs.
Due to injury concerns and age factors, we saw how he was replaced by Sam Curran by the PBKS management when he was injured, and eventually, Curran led the side for most of the matches, but they mostly ended up losing. So, what’s next for Shikhar Dhawan? There is a chance that he may be released from PBKS, and if that happens, will he play? If so, which team will go after this veteran left-hander? Let’s speculate on three teams that may look to acquire his services. It’s also important to consider whether he will be able to play or not, but if things go his way, these three teams might be interested in him.
Delhi Capitals
It could be a homecoming for Shikhar Dhawan, a franchise he played for from 2019 to 2021. He had an outstanding run with them, making 521 runs in 16 games during the 2019 season and leading the team to the playoffs. During his time with the franchise, they reached the playoffs on two occasions out of three: in 2019 and 2021. This clearly showed how well things went for him on that team. There might be an open door for him in this camp once again, and if any big changes happen, we may see the Delhi boy representing his home franchise once again.
Lucknow Super Giants
It could be debatable, but looking at the scenario of the Punjab Kings, the team demands experience in the top order. If reports are true that KL Rahul may not be retained, it means LSG will lose their top-order batter as well. There is a Chance, that Shikhar may be roped in by this franchise, as they expect a player with more than 6,000 runs to help teams, that are struggling to make a mark. Although it will be interesting to see how LSG approaches this situation, there is certainly no question that this star batter could be a valuable addition to the team.
Gujarat Titans
Another name that might spark curiosity about why GT should pursue him is the current issue the team faces with their right and left-hand batting combination. While they do have David Miller and Sai Sudharsan, they need more options at the top. GT had a rough season in IPL 2024, where they often struggled to score runs. Also, if they release Matthew Wade, it may open up a wide opportunity for them and create a spot for him. Although it is slightly possible that LSG and DC may seem more favorable to acquire this champion, if any team could go after him, it should be GT.
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