As India start their preparations for the next year’s T20 World Cup, senior opener Shikhar Dhawan has insisted that the team management will give the youngsters the chance to prove themselves ahead of the mega event. The next edition of the T20 World Cup will take place in Australia next year in November. India have already made it clear that they will give ample chances to the fringe players.

In the ongoing T20I series against South Africa, the Men in Blue have rested proven campaigners like Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal to make way for newcomers. The likes of Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini, Shreyas Iyer are being tried out in recent times. And Shikhar Dhawan is optimistic that the team management will continue giving chances to them

“(While) trying out youngsters, it is good to give them a good run because when new players come in, it takes time for them to express themselves. Young boys are taking these opportunities with both hands. I am sure the team management will give them a longer run,” Shikhar Dhawan said on the eve of the third T20I against South Africa.

The star opener also said that the seniors are “always open” to help their younger teammates like Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant. Pant is having a tough time in ODIs and T20Is at the moment. Having already scored Test centuries in Australia and England, he is yet to prove himself in the white-ball format.

“For senior players like us, say someone like Rishabh comes in to bat or Shreyas coming in, we make sure we communicate with them and make sure they are comfortable and not nervous. We make them think what is needed at that particular moment,” Dhawan said.

Shikhar Dhawan on his form:

Shikhar Dhawan had a poor outing in West Indies where he managed just 65 runs in three T20Is and two ODIs. He then played for India A and regained his form with some fine fifties. The southpaw was looking in good touch in the second T20I against the Proteas before a splendid catch from David Miller cut short his knock.

“I have been playing well. I got a break and came back and even in the West Indies, I didn’t score many runs, but I was middling the ball nicely. For me, it’s normal, it happens, four-five innings can go here and there. I know that my process is very strong, I am a keen observer of whatever I am doing,” Dhawan said about his form.