‘Bit sad, but I’ve moved on’ – Dhawan on Test omission

Dhawan was left out of the 17-member squad named in October, with Murali Vijay, Prithvi Shaw and KL Rahul included as openers, but he has since been in exemplary form.

He was named Player of the Series after the Twenty20 Internationals in Australia finished 1-1, with 117 runs at a fine strike rate of 182.81. In his last four T20I innings, he has scores of 41, 76, 92 and 43.

“I was a bit sad, but I have moved on and I am in a good frame of mind,” he said. “I am in a happy, positive mood. I am enjoying my game.

“I have got a bit of off time, and I am going to enjoy my training and get myself fitter. I am happy, and once I am happy, things go well for me.”

He won’t be around, but he is backing India to win their first Test series in Australia. “We have got a very good chance to win the series here,” he said.

“We have to play good complete cricket in all three departments whether it's batting, bowling or fielding, and also catching. We have to be consistent, and then we will have a good chance of beating Australia.”

Dhawan, meanwhile, will be turning his focus to the ICC Men's World Cup 2019, which begins in six months.

With England playing hosts this time around, and Dhawan having a good record there in limited-overs cricket, he is confident.

"I am going to give my best. I am a big believer in process, and once I get it right, other things will follow on its own,” he said. “Of course we would like to bring the World Cup back home.

"I have done well in both Champions Trophies in England and with my experience, I hope to score a lot of runs in World Cup and give good starts and sail through so that we can get the Cup back.”