Rahul scored a magnificent 112 in the third and final ODI in Mount Maunganui on Tuesday and Dhawan was quick to congratulate the 27-year-old who finished the ODIs with 204 runs in three innings.
India will play five T20Is against New Zealand, starting January 24 in Auckland.
The only thing that makes him 'sad' is Shikhar Dhawan, who has been ruled out of the New Zealand assignment due to shoulder dislocation.
With Dhawan picking up a fresh shoulder injury that ruled him out of the T20I and the ODI series, the team management has been pushed back to the drawing board to look at alternatives for their playing XI, one which could be suitable for New Zealand conditions.
The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Sanju Samson as Dhawan’s replacement in the T20I series and Prithvi Shaw for the ODI series.
Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shikhar Dhawan will complete their rehab at the NCA.
Indian opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan has been ruled out of T20I series against New Zealand with shoulder injury.
After being taken for an X-ray, Dhawan was seen with his left arm in sling, putting under doubt his participation in the New Zealand tour, starting January 24 with a T20 match in Auckland.
Dhawan had hurt taken his left shoulder during fielding and was immediately taken off the field.
Shikhar Dhawan faced another injury scare during the third and final ODI against Australia in Benglauru.
In the second ODI, Rahul affected the stumping of Aussie skipper Aaron Finch and also took two catches behind the stumps in the second ODI besides starring with the bat with his 52-ball 80.
After the 2nd ODI against Australia, Dhawan was seen hosting 'Chahal TV', a gig the leggie has made famous, along with KL Rahul.
The team management is keeping a close eye on the duo and will take a call on their availability before the series decider at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
The word from the Indian team management after the match was that Shikhar Dhawan is "doing fine" and there is no problems as such.
KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli hit fifties while the bowlers chipped in equally as India beat Australia by 36 runs in Rajkot to level three-match series 1-1.
India put on an all-round show to beat Australia by 36 runs in Rajkot to level the three-match series 1-1 on Friday.
Shikhar Dhawan will not take the field in the second ODI after being hit on the rib-cage off Pat Cummins' delivery during his 96-run knock.
His form started off with a 52 against Sri Lanka in the third and final game of the T20I series against Sri Lanka. Dhawan then started off the Australia contest with a fighting 74 off 91 deliveries before following it up with a knock of 96 off 90 deliveries.
Shikhar Dhawan opened the batting while KL Rahul batted at No.3 in the first ODI against Australia in Mumbai.
Shikhar Dhawan hit a half-century before Australia pulled things back to bowl India out for 255 in 49.1 overs at the Wankhede Stadium.
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