Forced out of at least three World Cup matches, injured Indian batsman Shikhar Dhawan on Wednesday hinted that it is not yet over for him, posting a motivational poem about being determined on his social media page.
Dhawan, who sustained a hairline fracture on his left thumb during his match-winning hundred against Australia on Sunday, will miss India's next three games -- against New Zealand (June 13, Thursday), Pakistan (June 16, Sunday) and Afghanistan (June 22). He continues to be with the squad but under observation.
Delhi's wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant has flown to England as standby.
The 33-year-old quoted legendary Urdu poet Rahat Indori on his Twitter page to voice his intentions.
"Kabhi mehek ki tarah hum gulon se udte hain...Kabhi dhuyein ki tarah hum parbaton se udte hain...Ye kainchiyaan humein udne se khaak rokengi...Ke hum paron se nahin hoslon se udte hain... (Sometimes we are like the fragrance of flowers, sometimes the smoke that comes out of mountains. How can any scissor cut short our flight as we don't fly on wings but courage)," he posted.
Meanwhile, a final decision on Dhawan's availability Cup will be taken only after 10 to 12 days as he is too "precious" to be ruled out just yet, said India's assistant coach Sanjay Bangar.
"As far as Shikhar is concerned, we are observing him and it will take some time, around 10 or 12 days to figure out where he stands," Bangar said on the eve of the game against New Zealand.
"We will be in a better position to take a call then because we don't want to rule out a precious player like Shikhar, straight at the time of the injury," he added.
Bangar also informed that Pant is being summoned so that he can train with the team and be match-ready in case Dhawan is ruled out of the tournament.
"Since Dhawan's assessment will take 10-12 days, till that point of time, we wanted to make sure if and when the replacement is required and I am saying if and when, then it is always good to have a replacement player coming in and practising with the team as a stand-by," Bangar said.
