All-rounder Shivam Dube has been sensational with the bat in the last two T20Is against Afghanistan. In Mohali, the 30-year-old smacked 60* runs off 40 deliveries, while in Indore, Dube made 63* runs off 32 deliveries, helping the team win by six wickets. His extraordinary hitting has been lauded by cricket experts, while the Mumbai-born player has credited success to his IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings and skipper MS Dhoni.
The five-time champions signed him in 2022 and since then, he has made a significant impact. In 2023, Dube scored 418 runs in 16 IPL games and played an important part in helping CSK lift the title. He made his India return soon after and has been a force to reckon with since then. Reflecting upon that, Dube mentioned that CSK gave him a lot of confidence and believed in his abilities, which helped the cricketer play his natural game in the shortest format.
“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 was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
“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,” he added.
Notably, Dube is in direct competition with Hardik Pandya for a spot in the upcoming T20 World Cup squad, which is slated to begin on June 1. The upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League will hold a lot of importance, as it could potentially decide Dube’s international future.
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