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Long wait made Shikhar`s resolve stronger: Childhood coach

The long wait to break into India`s Test team made Shikhar Dhawan`s resolve to succeed at the highest level stronger, feels his childhood coach Tarak Sinha.

New Delhi: The long wait to break into India`s Test team made Shikhar Dhawan`s resolve to succeed at the highest level stronger, feels his childhood coach Tarak Sinha.
"The opening pair of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir was successful for a long time, so compared to other cricketers, Shikhar got his chance a bit late. But, better late than never! I am proud of him but what makes him stand out is his steely resolve. "He knew that Viru-Gauti are a settled opening pair and he needed to wait for his chance. I am happy that he has made use of the opportunity to the fullest," Sinha, who has coached Dhawan since the cricketer was 12 said on Saturday. Dhawan created history today by cracking the fastest-ever Test century in the third cricket Test against Australia and was unbeaten on a 168-ball 185 at the end of the third day. Sinha has been associated with Delhi`s famous Sonnet Club which has produced international cricketers like Ashish Nehra, Raman Lamba, Ajay Sharma to name a few. "Shikhar always had the talent but more than anything had the guts. Not many people know that he was a wicketkeeper when he first came under my guidance. I realized he is special when as a 12 year-old, he scored a hundred in an U-15 school tournament. Even after doing well in the U-19 World Cup in 2004 (he had 3 centuries), he had to fight a lot," recollects Sinha. "When he came into the Delhi side, it had established players like Sehwag, Gambhir, Aakash Chopra, Mithun Manhas, Rajat Bhatia but he fought and cemented his place. His junior Virat Kohli raced ahead and made a name in international cricket. He didn`t lose hope, carried on his good work," said Sinha. PTI