IND vs AFG T20I: Shivam Dube’s back-to-back half-century knocks in the ongoing three-match T20I series against Afghanistan have potentially posed another pleasing challenge in front of the Indian selectors who have a massive task ahead to finalise Team India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2024.
With his consistent show with the ball and bat, Shivam Dube will be a worthy contender to feature in India’s World Cup 2024 squad in the West Indies and USA. If he manages to extend his sublime run in the last T20I against Afghanistan and the IPL 2024, he will surely be one of the guys aboard to the West Indies and USA for the showpiece event.
In the first two games against Afghanistan, Dube kept everyone on their toes owing to his striking show with the bat. In the first game in Mohali, the left-handed batter remained unbeaten at 60 runs score, scoring 63 in the second game and taking India home in both contests.
Former Indian cricketer, Rohan Gavaskar pointed out that while everyone is referring to him for the T20 World Cup 2024 in case Hardik Pandya is unfit, the batter himself is making sure that he doesn’t go unnoticed even if Hardik is fit and available to play.
“We have been talking about him as, ‘Oh, listen, what if Hardik is unfit?’, I think what he is doing is making sure that even if Hardik is fit, he is on that plane in that World Cup squad. If you put in performances like this, it is very hard for anyone to drop you. It is going to be a really tough decision for the selectors if they decide to drop him. He is doing all that he can, which is giving the selectors a headache,” Gavaskar said.
Hardik Pandya has been Team India first first-choice all-rounder in the white-ball formats for a few years now. However, he hasn’t managed to provide his comprehensive services to the team due to untimely injuries. He was included in India’s World Cup 2023 squad, but couldn’t play the half of the event due to an injury.
As of now, the senior all-rounder is nursing his injury and is unavailable for selection for the India vs Afghanistan T20I series. He is likely to be back during the IPL 2024, along with Suryakumar Yadav.
IND vs AFG: Shivam Dube credits CSK for his brilliant show
Dube has credited MS Dhoni and CSK for his recent success. He said that though he had the game in him, it was CSK who made sure that it came out in full throttle during the IPL 2023.
“This credit goes to the CSK team and Mahi bhai. I always had the game, but what CSK do is take out that game from a player. So, they have given me that confidence. They told me that I could score runs in IPL and that they believed in me. The likes of Hussey and Fleming said they had faith in me and that I could do what they wanted,” Dube said.
He also remembered MS Dhoni’s advice to remain smart while choosing his shots.
“When I was with CSK, he (MS Dhoni) told me that I had the capability to bat well. But he told me to be smart. So, I focussed on my limitations and what I could do well.”
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