Former India cricketer Shikhar Dhawan recently opened up about his cricketing journey, sharing stories of resilience, sledging encounters, and the camaraderie that exists beyond the field.

Dhawan revealed that his dream of playing for India never wavered, even when faced with injuries, often visualizing such moments in his mind. He recalled playing through intense pain on multiple occasions, including the 2019 ICC World Cup.

"I always had a desire to play for my country even if I was injured. I used to dream about it, and I made it a reality," Dhawan said.

"I played for India three times with a broken hand, batting through pain with the help of medicines and painkillers," he added.

One of his most defining moments came during India’s 2019 World Cup clash against Australia. Dhawan had already scored 25 runs when a blistering 150 kmph delivery struck his thumb, fracturing it instantly.

"I felt the pain and knew it was broken. I told Rohit [Sharma] that my hand was gone, and he just said, 'Play now. The left-right combination is working well; we will dominate.' That communication was so important. So, I sprayed the injury, took painkillers, and continued. Initially, I played cautiously, but once my hands warmed up, I took another painkiller and batted fluently. From 27 to 50, I felt better, and I went on to score a hundred before leaving the tournament due to the injury," Dhawan recalled about his 117 off 109 in the 2019 World Cup against Australia.

Dhawan’s fearless approach extended beyond that World Cup match. He recounted similar experiences in Sri Lanka and Australia, where he batted despite injuries and still managed to score centuries.

"I felt like a man. Maybe it's because of all the beatings I took as a kid that I developed a strong pain tolerance," he laughed.

Dhawan also reflected on sledging in cricket, particularly against Australia, where verbal battles were frequent.

"I had my share of battles, especially with Shane Watson and Brad Haddin," Dhawan admitted.

When asked whether these on-field rivalries extended beyond the stadium, Dhawan dismissed the idea.

"I hardly ever carried any grudges outside the stadium. If I meet Watson today, we will laugh about those moments. In the IPL [Indian Premier League], we become together, and everything is forgotten," he added.

He explained how sledging is a tactic, with different players approaching it in their own way.

"It's all a tactic. Everyone has their own style. Take Pujara [Cheteshwar], for example—you'll never see him sledging because it's not in his nature but Virat [Kohli] thrives on it; he enjoys it and uses it to bring out his best. Personally, I didn't sledge much because I didn't need to," Dhawan said.

He also highlighted the cultural differences in sledging among teams.

"New Zealanders, for example, rarely sledge. They are absolute gentlemen. I remember facing Trent Boult once, and all he said was, 'I'll get you out.' I just replied, 'Okay, let's see'," Dhawan said. ANI