Shikhar Dhawan, a Flat-Track Bully Exposed Down Under?

Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan's woeful form with the bat continues. Flawed technique, lack of confidence and inability to apply himself have plotted to cause the flamboyant left-hander's downfall in overseas conditions. On Monday, Dhawan suffered his third consecutive single-digit score in Australia. (Also read: Virat Kohli should bat at No. 4 if it suits the team strategy: Viv Richards)

The moustache-twirling, chirpy Indian batsman has often retreated into a shell while playing away from home. It's a classic case of two Dhawans -- one that dominates opposition on flat Indian wickets and the other who fails to cope when the ball does a bit off the wicket. Dhawan has been found wanting against a few extra yards of pace and on tracks with bounce. His contrasting scores -- at home and away - reaffirm the inglorious tag of a 'flat-track bully.' (Team India look emotionally drained)

"Dhawan is lazy and is not learning from his mistakes. His poor form is not good for India," said former skipper Sourav Ganguly, after the left-handed opener exited after a familiar false stroke - guiding a rising ball to slips.  With virtually no movement of feet, Dhawan has been found out easily and Mitchell Starc has exploited this weakness very well. (India's World Cup preparation hurt Down Under)

Former Test batsman and TV commentator Sanjay Manjrekar makes a pertinent observation. "Dhawan's flawed technique is being found out. His mind has not worked because of his poor scores. Everytime there has been a little extra bounce on the wicket, he's in trouble."

Dhawan has played a total of seven ODIs in Australia and New Zealand, with a top score of 32. In four of those matches, Dhawan has fallen prey to the delivery angled away from him, edging them to the wicketkeeper or slips. Clearly uncomfortable against pace and bounce, Dhawan has paid the penalty for poking at deliveries leaving him. This was also a problem in Gautam Gambhir's gameplay, another Indian left-handed opener.

Dhawan's spate of poor form adds to Dhoni's headache ahead of the World Cup. At a time when Virat Kohli's batting position has become a matter of great debate, Dhawan's poor form only adds to the confusion. The over-dependence on Kohli leaves Indian top-order in a state of flux and that's not a good idea just days before the first World Cup game for the defending champions.

If Dhawan is eventually dropped and Rahane opens with Rohit Sharma, who plays at No. 3? Is Ambati Rayudu a temporary fix or a permanent solution? The list of questions continues to grow.

India's ODI vs England on Friday might well be Dhawan's last chance to try and iron out the flaws in his technique before the team begins its World Cup title defence against Pakistan on February 15. But Steven Finn and James Anderson would have worked him out by now.