Shivam Dube has been picked one of the 15 players who will represent India in the forthcoming T20 World Cup 2024, meaning he will be playing in his first-ever ICC event.
The seam-bowling all-round player debuted for India in 2019, however he was not included since he did not live up to his potential. Shivam Dube signed a four-crore rupee contract with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL). This proved to be a significant turning point in his career since both experts and fans were drawn to his steady performances.
With a strike rate of 156.22, he amassed 289 runs from 11 matches in the 2022 IPL. This was only a teaser for the southpaw, who led the Men in Yellow to victory in the 2023 Indian Premier League by scoring 418 runs at a strike rate of 158.33 in 16 games. Additionally, Dube smashed the most sixes of any batsman last year with 22 against the spinners.
After two half-centuries and a few wickets, Shivam Dube was declared the Player of the Series in India’s three Twenty20 International matches against Afghanistan earlier this year. In the current IPL season, he has amassed 350 runs from nine matches at a strike rate of 172.41, riding high on his stellar performances for CSK and India.
“I was assured I will have the opportunity to bat and bowl by Rohit Sharma, the captain, when I was selected for the Afghanistan series. “Just show us what you can do,” he urged. Just express yourself if the captain approaches you and says, “We want to see you do this.” “I felt like I was playing now, so all I could think about was how can I play and help the team win,” Dube remarked before to India’s roster announcement in an interview with bcci.tv.
His outstanding efforts paid off, as he was called up to the Indian side for the T20 World Cup next month. Prior to the Afghanistan series, the 30-year-old recently recalled something that India skipper Rohit Sharma had spoken to him.
I was introduced to CSK, and it has been beneficial to me. Shivam Dube
Dube didn’t overlook to express his gratitude to coach Stephen Fleming, the entire team management, and former CSK captain MS Dhoni for assisting him in realising his full potential.
“You have to hit, Mahi [MS Dhoni] bhai and [Stephen] Fleming instructed me when I walked into the CSK setup. They’ve never, however, stated that it must come from the first ball. They are aware that doing so can be dangerous. I was thinking to myself, “Why should I take unnecessary chances with my first ten balls if they believe in me?” Dube stated.
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“Yes, I’m hitting [big] now, but how can I follow through on it?” was the idea. I mentally readied myself to see how I should respond if a bowler bowls a specific ball. I finally got around to applying this, but it took some time. I have a keen eye for the ball, and as soon as it strikes the bat, I sense that it’s gone, finished, and will continue for a long time. With special appreciation to CSK. They raised me in their manner, and it has served me well,” he continued.