 After consistent performances in the 2012–13 domestic season, Dhawan was rewarded with a call-up to the Indian Test squad in February 2013 for the four-match series against Australia.He was the third-choice opener in the squad which consisted of Test regulars Virender Sehwag and Murali Vijay.India chose Sehwag and Vijay over Dhawan in the first two Tests, after which Sehwag was dropped from the squad owing to his poor form.