All-rounder Shivam Dube acting as a replacement for the injured Hardik Pandya, continued his impressive scoring streak in the second T20I of the ongoing Afghanistan series, contributing significantly to Rohit Sharma’s Team India securing another comfortable victory over the Rashid Khan-less side on Sunday. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dube, with half-centuries each, propelled the Virat Kohli-led team to a decisive six-wicket win in the T20I series decider at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore. Remaining unbeaten on 63 off 32 balls, Dube earned praise from former Indian cricketer Rohan Gavaskar after the match.
In the absence of the superstar Hardik Pandya, Dube has emerged as India’s primary all-rounder. The stand-in skippers, Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, are recovering from injuries, making them unavailable for selection when India announced its squad for the Afghanistan series. Dube, making a comeback to the white-ball squad for India’s final T20I before the T20 World Cup, has significantly boosted his credentials with impressive performances in the first two matches.
Speaking to Cricbuzz regarding Shivam Dube’s recent displays, former Indian cricketer Gavaskar expressed his opinion that the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) star has created a selection dilemma for the Indian think tank in the World Cup year. Gavaskar mentioned, “We have been discussing him in the context of, ‘Oh, what if Hardik is unfit?’ I think what he is doing is ensuring that even if Hardik is fit, he secures a place in that World Cup squad. With performances like these, it becomes incredibly challenging for anyone to omit him. He is making the selectors’ decision very tough.”
Dube’s outstanding contributions include a smashing 60 off 40 balls in India’s first T20I win over Afghanistan in Mohali, earning him the Player of the Match accolade. In the second T20I, he achieved his second consecutive half-century, playing a crucial role in India taking an unassailable 2-0 lead over the visitors. Additionally, Dube joined the elite list of Indian players, including Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh, by taking a wicket and scoring a half-century in the same match. This makes Hardik’s position in a spot of bother once he is back into the squad.
Reflecting on Dube’s growth, Gavaskar remarked, “After these two games, I think he now feels that he belongs at the international level. He has gained the appreciation and respect of his teammates through two absolutely outstanding performances. He is much more comfortable with his own game, understanding it better. He is no longer trying to emulate anyone; instead, he confidently asserts, ‘This is what I can do, and this is what I bring to the table.’
