NEW DELHI:
Shivam Dube
, the powerful left-handed batter, shared insights into a conversation with skipper
Rohit Sharma
, where the Indian skipper urged him to showcase his abilities during the series against
Afghanistan
in early January.
This encouragement provided Dube with a glimpse of his potential inclusion in India’s squad for the upcoming Men’s
T20 World Cup
2024, a goal he ultimately achieved with a spot in the 15-member squad.
Despite experiencing a dip in form after his T20I debut for India in 2019, Dube's impressive performance in IPL 2023 for the Chennai Super Kings reignited his international prospects. Amassing 418 runs with a striking 176.47 against spinners, including 22 sixes, paved his return to the Indian team for the Ireland tour last year.
In a significant boost to his credentials, Dube earned the title of Player of the Series earlier this year for his stellar performance against Afghanistan at home.
Notching up 124 runs across the three-match series, Dube's unbeaten knocks of 60 and 63, coupled with his contributions with the ball, highlighted his all-round prowess, reaffirming his status as a valuable asset to the Indian cricket team.
"When I got picked for the Afghanistan series, Rohit bhai told me I will (get a chance to) bowl and bat too. He said, 'just show us what you can do.' If the captain comes up and tells you we want to see you do this, you just express yourself. I felt 'I'm now playing', so my only thought was how can I perform and make the team win."
Dube's exceptional form in the middle-order for CSK in IPL 2024 has been nothing short of remarkable. Excelling against both spin and pace, he has amassed 350 runs at an impressive average of 58.33 in the tournament as of May 1.
Dube attributes this surge in performance to the invaluable guidance and mindset instilled in him by MS Dhoni and CSK head coach
Stephen Fleming
. Their mentorship has catalyzed a significant transformation in his T20 game, enabling him to elevate his performance and make substantial contributions to his team's success in the tournament.
"When I came into the CSK setup, Mahi bhai and 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 have faith in me, why should I take undue risks in my first 10 balls?"
"That plan was, yes, I'm hitting (big) now, but how can I do it right through? Mentally, I prepared myself to see what my approach should be if a bowler bowls a particular ball. It took some time for me to apply this, but I'm set now.”
“I watch the ball really well, and as it hits the bat, I get the feel that it's gone, it's done, it'll go for six and go long. Special thanks to CSK. They brought me up and it has worked for me."
Dube’s six-hitting abilities and clean bat-swing has brought up comparisons with the legendary Yuvraj Singh. "It feels nice when people compare my batting to his (Yuvraj). If I can also perform like him, it'll be nice. When I came into the national team, Ravi bhai (Shastri, who was the head coach then) told me 'you hit sixes like
Yuvraj Singh
'.”
“From Yuvraj, I learnt that even if he wouldn't hit off the first seven-eight balls, he covered it up towards the end. It’s something I’ve prepped myself for mentally. If people think I can (hit like Yuvraj), maybe I actually can do it. It's important to apply the right things at the right time," he concluded.
(With IANS inputs)
English (US) ·