India opener Shikhar Dhawan has said that he can take on the fast bowlers with ease but at the same time he also said that he doesn't want to face the first ball of the innings whenever a pace bowler starts the proceedings. Dhawan’s comments came while responding to the recent remarks about him by his opening partner Rohit Sharma and David Warner, his former teammate at Sunrisers Hyderabad as well.

"No, no I disagree to that. It's not like I don't want to face fast bowlers. Everyone has their views, I am an opening batsman. I have done that role for India for eight years now, so obviously I play the fast bowlers," Shikhar Dhawan said during an Instagram live session with former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan on Wednesday.

He further added, "If I do not face them in the first over, then I eventually do in the second over."

Although Dhawan has shown his ability with the bat since his India debut, it is his opening partner Rohit Sharma, who has been emerged as the team's one of the best players alongside captain Virat Kohli.

"Yes, I do not like taking strike on the first ball of the match and I am honest about it but if any youngster like Prithvi (Shaw) comes in the side and he is not comfortable taking the first ball then obviously I would take the strike. But with Rohit, it started in Champions Trophy where I told him to take the strike and that sort of continued as I don't like to change things much," the left-handed batsman revealed.

The Delhi player also said that it's a challenge for every opener to face fast bowlers in any seaming conditions and England pitch is best known for seam bowling. Both Rohit Sharma and Dhawan have been playing as openers for India since the Champions Trophy in 2013 before KL Rahul came in the scene recently.