Fractured finger, swollen neck, bruised eye and gashed knee — Shikhar Dhawan endured a painful 2019 but the India opener is ready to make a “fresh start” reminding one and all that his “class is permanent” and he “hasn't forgotten how to bat”.

Dhawan, who will be leading Delhi in their Ranji Trophy game against Hyderabad, is back after recovering from a knee injury sustained during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, which required 25 stitches.

While he is back in the India team, he knows that the road ahead is a bit tricky with KL Rahul in imperious form in white-ball cricket. “This is a fresh start for me. I was hit on the finger, then on the neck, got a bruised eye and then stitches on the knee. Good news is New Year is coming. I am happy that KL has done so well. He has grabbed the opportunity. So I am going to go and express myself,” Dhawan said after finishing his training session here.

One doesn’t have control over injuries but ‘Gabbar’, as he is fondly called, has never been affected by setbacks.

“Injuries are natural. You’ve got to accept that. It’s fine and I don’t create a big fuss about it. The start-stop thing doesn’t affect me as I haven’t forgotten how to bat. My class is permanent and I will score runs.”