Don`t want to waste opportunities like last time: Shikhar Dhawan

New Delhi: Consistency has always been a problem with Shikhar Dhawan since his first-class debut back in 2004 but after his maiden call-up to the Indian Test squad, the Delhi left-hander is determined not to let this chance go abegging.

"I can`t blame anyone for not being able to cement my place in the India squad when I was touring West Indies last year. I wasn`t consistent enough and that`s why couldn`t play more than five ODIs. I guess, it`s all in the mind and I am not going to let this opportunity go," the 27-year-old said. Dhawan has played five ODIs scoring 69 runs with a half century that came in the West Indies. "No excuses for not delivering but pitches in West Indies were extremely slow and the ball wasn`t coming onto the bat. I should have scored more runs," Dhawan, who has scored 5679 runs in 81 first-class matches, said. However, he said that he was expecting a call-up having scored four first-class centuries in his 833 runs this season. "While going into the Irani Cup, I didn`t want to think about selection as I had done in some earlier occasions while playing these kind of games before a team selection. "I batted freely and should have got a century. But the key to my success this season is my consistency. I have not thrown away after getting into the 30`s and 40`s." Dhawan feels that his unbeaten century (110 not out) against England in a practice game also helped his case. "If you score runs against an international attack, the self belief automatically increases. I didn`t face problems facing Steven Finn, Jade Dernbach, Stuart Meaker or James Tredwell. That innings also boosted my confidence a great deal." During the 2010-11 season, Dhawan had played an irresponsible shot as Delhi were chasing a meagre 136 against Railways at Roshnara Club ground and the hosts lost that match. "I had never faced such criticism as I did after that game. But that dismissal did change my approach towards batting. Therefore it was very satisfying when I anchored the 270-run chase against Maharashtra. I know my game better," the Delhi captain said. A lot of Dhawan`s contemporaries like Suresh Raina have established themselves in one form of the game but the left-hander doesn`t have any regrets. "I have been playing for India `A` for th past six-seven years but I knew that the senior team was performing brilliantly. If your main team is doing well, you need to learn to wait and I was precisely doing that." Dhawan, who got married a couple of months back to half Bengali-half-British Esha Mukherjee also credits his family`s support. "Apart from my parents and coach Tarak Sinha, my wife has been a big support and so has been my two daughters. My elder daughter is 11 years old and she told me that `Papa I am proud of you`. That means the world to me," said Dhawan sounding a content man. So how much of Bengali has he learnt, he chuckled, "Khub bhalo (very good) and Aami tomake valobashi (I love you) are the two words I have learnt by heart." PTI