CSK batter Shivam Dube reaped rewards for a stunning show in IPL 2024 and was picked in the India squad for the T20 World Cup. Coming in the middle order, he played many game-changing innings for CSK, scoring 396 runs at 162.30. Dube stocks skyrocketed after he was picked by CSK in the IPL 2022 auction. Dube had a breakthrough season and scored 289 runs in 11 games. His performance got better in 2023 and scored 418 runs, playing a significant role in CSK’s run to the title.
Dube spoke on his stunning comeback and credited MS Dhoni for the resurgence. Dube said that Dhoni’s backing gave him self-confidence and his advice improved his cricket.
“Mahi Bhai’s role was crucial (in my comeback) because if a legendary player like him judges you and gives you advice then it means a lot to any player. When he tells you something positive, your confidence skyrockets instantly. His small pieces of advice have improved my cricket largely,” said Dube while speaking to Star Sports.
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Dube was picked as a backup to Hardik Pandya in the T20 World Cup squad. However, the impact rule meant that Dube was not required to bowl in the mega event. The 30-year-old revealed that India coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma has asked him to practise bowling as he could be called in chip in with a few overs in the T20 World Cup.
“I bowled just one over in the IPL, but I got a wicket in that so that’s a big positive and it was important (for confidence). Nevertheless, I had been working in the nets because I knew I had to polish my skills to be there when the situation arose. Rohit bhai and Rahul bhai had told be to express myself as an all-rounder and I have been told that I could be needed to bowl 2-3 overs at any point in time,” he added.
Meanwhile, Shivam Dube is unlikely to get picked in the Indian playing XI. He is being seen as a backup to Hardik Pandya and India are likely to persist with the MI captain for the initial part of the leg. As a pure batter, Dube might struggle to find a place in the team and the Indian batting order looks jam-packed.
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India Predicted XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma (C), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj