Dhawan was dropped after the New Zealand series last year due to a dip in form and was recalled into the team for the Champions Trophy earlier this year. Since then, the Delhi batsman has done exceedingly well and he's keen to continue his good form. India at present has many opening options which is keeping Dhawan on his toes.

"It's a long time (until the next World Cup). I would like to keep performing well. That would be my goal because if I don't perform, there are such great batsmen in our side that anyone can take my place," he said after helping India register an easy nine-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first ODI in Dambulla on Sunday.

"Failure teaches you a lot and I am lucky I have learnt so much out of that. I have already had a slump so I don't think about it. When it has to come it will come. I embrace that period of slump also.

"When I was not doing well I was just focussing on my processes. And when I am doing well, I am still focussing on my processes. So those things don't bother me that much," said Dhawan who hit a fluent unbeaten 132.

Somehow, Champions Trophy seems to bring the best out of the 31-year-old, putting him back on track.

"When I made a comeback in the ODI side in 2013 Champions Trophy, I was batting this fluently. Even in recent Champions Trophy (2017), I was playing in that flow.

"I would say that I even played like this in my debut Test match against Australia, or like I played in Galle in the first Test here. I am playing quite similarly to those times.

"I am trying to keep repeating the same mantra for myself," said the 31-year-old Delhi batsman.

Dhawan added that he has to raise his fitness to a high level to be at par with "all the young boys" in the team.

"I like to keep myself fit at the pace of the game. Apart from that I don't really too many goals that I have to score these many runs. I just focus on my process including my fitness, skills and fielding," he said.

Put into bat, Sri Lanka were placed at 150/2 at one stage, but then collapsed to 216 all out with Axar Patel returning with his career-best figures of 3-34.

Dhawan put on 197 runs for the second wicket with Virat Kohli as India won with 21.1 overs to spare, their biggest margin of victory in terms of balls remaining.

"I really didn't think about the pitch. I was just watching the ball and playing the ball. And I felt that the pitch was very good, the way Sri Lanka started the innings. I thought they will score 300 runs but they lost lot of wickets in the middle and we dominated the game," said Dhawan.

Signing off, Dhawan defended the under-fire hosts saying the young Lankan team just needs some time to click as a unit.

"This is a young Sri Lankan side and they are in transition period where all the boys will mature. In international cricket you need to have that experience. The young boys are good but with time they will get better.

Asked if the Lankan attack led by the ageing Lasith Malinga was the poorest he has faced, the opener didn't want to use too many "harsh words".

"Malinga has been a legend for Sri Lankan cricket and he has done great in international cricket in all formats. He is a bit old now and with time I feel that his pace has gone down a bit. That's why we can attack more as batsmen and that's what we look at. This is natural because he has played so much cricket. It's just a cycle, life cycle, that's what I feel," said the left-handed opener.

"I don't use those harsh words. I won't say they are the worst bowling attack I have faced. The left arm bowler (Vishwa Fernando) bowls decent pace. They have a good fast bowling attack. In Champions Trophy, they even beat us.

"It's just that we have got a mature side, very experienced side so that plays a huge role because how you handle pressure situations that matters a lot with experience.

So I feel that with time Sri Lankan team will do well," he added.

With Agency inputs

Stay updated on the go with Sify Live Scores App. Click here to download it for your device