By Shivam Dube admitted to experiencing sleepless nights leading up to the announcement of India’s T20 World Cup squad. The 30-year-old’s maiden call-up to a major world event was revealed on Tuesday (April 30), marking a remarkable ascent over the past 14 months in T20 cricket. His journey was highlighted by two impressive IPL seasons with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
CSK’s decision to sign Dube for INR 4 crores was initially viewed as a gamble. However, it proved to be a wise investment as the franchise won the IPL title in 2023. Dube’s transformation into a spin-hitting all-rounder in the middle overs played a crucial role. He smashed 35 sixes in the season at a striking rate of 176.47 against spinners.
In the ongoing season, Dube has shown improvement against fast and short-pitched bowling, scoring 284 runs off 165 balls faced from fast bowlers at a strike rate of 172.12. His performances earned him a call-up to the India T20I squad, where he was named Player of the Tournament after scoring back-to-back half-centuries against Afghanistan.
“When I came for the Afghanistan series, Rohit bhai told me, ‘bowling bhi daalega, batting bhi milega tere ko (You’ll bowl and get to bat as well). You just have to show what you are capable of,'” Dube said in an interview with bcci.tv. “So that is what I was focusing on because if the captain tells you that they want to see you perform, it motivates you. When I was playing, all I was thinking about was how I could perform better and help my team.”
Dube Recounts Rohit’s Advice: ‘Just Display Your Skills
There are no doubts about his big-hitting abilities, a skill honed by CSK. “When I came into the CSK setup, Mahi [MS Dhoni] bhai and [Stephen] Fleming told me that you have to hit. But they’ve never said it has to be from the first ball. Even they know doing that can be risky. It was at the back of my mind that if they trust in me, why should I take undue risks in my first 10 balls?”
“Mentally, I prepared myself to know what my approach should be if a bowler bowls a particular ball. It took some time, but I’m set now. I watch the ball really well, and as it hits the bat, I get the feel that it’ll go for six and go long. Special thanks to CSK. They brought me up, and it has worked for me.”
Dube’s batting, particularly his ability to hit sixes, has drawn comparisons with India’s white-ball legend Yuvraj Singh. He chuckled at the comparison but hopes to emulate Yuvraj’s big-hitting prowess and consistency. “It feels nice when people compare my batting to his. If I can also perform like him, it’ll be nice. When I came into the Indian team, Ravi [Shastri, then head coach] bhai told me ‘you hit sixes like Yuvraj Singh.'”
“I’ve learned watching him that even if he wouldn’t hit off the first seven-eight balls, he made up towards the end. I’ve learned that and prepared mentally for it too. If people think I can [hit like him], maybe I really can. Why not? It’s important to apply the right things at the right time.”
