Ahmedabad: For those who will be selected in the Indian team only if: Hardik Pandya Injured and even struggling to find his place in the Mumbai team for a season, Shivam Dube has come a long way. His ability to bat in sixes has earned him a spot in the 2024 T20 World Cup, with selectors preferring him over the renowned finisher Linku Singh.
The all-rounder for Mumbai and Chennai Super Kings will be India’s ‘silent’ (unobtrusive) yet violent (highly explosive) hero in the 2026 T20 World Cup. In a game where India’s top players have largely struggled to counter the spinners, Dube’s impactful performance and contribution deserved a gold medal. Dube strengthened his credentials as world cricket’s top power hitter by smashing 66 off just 31 balls, including six powerful sixes, in India’s final league stage match of the T20 World Cup against the Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday night. Unlike modern T20 specialist batsmen, Dube doesn’t seem to have much need to improvise. The Mumbaikar stands motionless at the crease, using his long leverage, timing and raw power to give the ball a good hit if it falls inside his arc. In this game, the 32-year-old played 23 times (16 goals) and 27 times (17 goals) against Namibia and South Africa respectively. Pakistan In his previous two appearances in the 2026 T20 World Cup. In the build-up to the T20 World Cup, Dube scored 65 off 23 balls against New Zealand in the fourth T20I in Vizag last month. Dube took some time to watch on Wednesday and was lucky to survive an LBW appeal, which was reviewed by Dutch off-spinner Aryan Dutt. He scored just six of 11 goals before exploding in typical fashion. “It was a little difficult on the wicket but it was a situation where I like to bat and I enjoyed it even though I was under pressure for a while. [Colin Ackermann] The pitching was pretty good for me, four dot balls, which was good from my side, but I knew I was going to cover it later. [Some balls] Is skidding and staying low. One of the balls also spun. So, for me, it was like, yeah, I could hit him, but the situation called for something else. So, I had to play then,” Dube said at Wednesday’s post-match press conference. Since Dube knew he was capable of hitting big sixes, he was not bothered by a few dot balls at the start. “Yes, obviously when you hit dots in T20s, you feel the pressure. But as a player, as a batsman, I knew then that maybe now if I get two runs in 10 balls, in the next five balls, if I hit two sixes, it will be covered. So the idea stayed in my mind. Yes, the wickets are gone so it is important that we build partnerships so it doesn’t matter if 2-4 balls are dot balls but then it will be covered,” a smiling Dube said after receiving the Man of the Match award. A few years ago, Dube carried an unwelcome reputation: He was uncomfortable with the short ball and true speed. However, as time went on, the southpaw continued to work on his weaknesses and became a better player every year. On Wednesday, he knocked down three sixes off the Dutch pacers Logan VanBeek. Asked how he climbed the learning curve and overcome his shortcomings, Dube said: “When you play in these situations, you learn. So, I got a little smarter in this situation. I know, yes, this bowler can come to me with this ball, or a fast bowler can bowl a short ball or a slower ball – I’ve worked on those things. I’m much better now. Game awareness is important and from my perspective it has gotten better,” Dube said. “When I [first] Come to CSK [Chennai Super Kings]there’s one thing I’ve been struggling with. It was important to come back strong because I knew I could dominate. I worked really hard on the short game. I know it’s not easy [to make the changes]but I had to give it extra time and hit extra shots. That’s what I do. “ “I know all the bowlers and they will [try and] Block me as well,” Dube said. “They won’t bowl me yorkers or long balls. They will fall short. They would throw slow pitches to me. So I’m prepared, so I’m waiting. When I came today, it didn’t mean that I could get a high winning rate. [immediately]but sometimes I think, now is the time for me to go. I know today is my day. “ Till the 2024 T20 World Cup, Dube’s strike rate against pace in T20Is was 134, but now it has gone up to 172. Realizing that the pacers are aiming to give him some “chin music”, Dube is ready for the challenge. “I know all the bowlers and they will [try and] Block me as well,” Dube said. “They won’t bowl me yorkers or long balls. They will fall short. They would throw slow pitches to me. So I’m prepared, so I’m waiting. When I came today, it didn’t mean that I could get a high winning rate. [immediately]but sometimes I think, now is the time for me to go. I knew today was my day,” Dube said. Dube was all smiles when he was informed that this was his 50th match in the T20 World Cup and he also chose to bat for some of his excited teammates. “The question is who owns the day,” Dube said in a philosophical tone. “I think in our team we are all match-winners and anyone can hit a big six on any day and I feel like today was the day so I need to be smart and push myself and stay there until the end but I also need to get my strength back. That’s what I do. That’s why I’m a power hitter,” Dube said. As well as batting, Dube’s bowling is also outstanding – helped by many helpful sessions with a bowling coach and former South Africa pacer Morn Morkel ——has also been significantly improved. He performed well with the bat on Wednesday night, taking two in three overs and scoring 35 runs. captain, reflecting the team’s confidence in his seam bowling Suryakumar Yadav When the Netherlands needed 28 points in the final, it turned to Dube. Netherlands scored 10 runs and Dube took a wicket.
