Shivam Dube left a lasting impression in the first T20I against Afghanistan with a stellar all-round performance on Thursday, earning him the well-deserved Player of the Match award.
In Mohali, Shivam Dube seized the opportunity in the absence of the injured Hardik Pandya. Bowling just two overs, he showcased his skills with a remarkable figure of 1/9, crucially dismissing Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran.
With the bat, positioned at number 4 in the chase for 159, Dube played a stellar innings, scoring an unbeaten 60 runs in 40 balls. He elegantly finished the match with a boundary. Considering Hardik Pandya’s susceptibility to injuries, India has been gradually integrating Dube into the T20I lineup over the past year, grooming him as a reliable alternative for Pandya in the seam-bowling all-rounder role. The 30-year-old Dube not only lived up to the expectations but delivered an impressive all-round performance in Mohali.
After the match, Shivam Dube shared a lighthearted chat with Suresh Raina regarding his role in CSK under the captaincy of MS Dhoni. Dube, who played a pivotal role in CSK’s triumph in the IPL 2023 season as the designated spin-basher in the middle-order, amusingly revealed that Dhoni hadn’t given him a single over to bowl throughout the season. Despite being recognized as an Impact Player, he was solely utilized for his batting skills.
Post-game in Mohali, Raina playfully hinted that judging by Dube’s bowling performance against Afghanistan, Dhoni might consider giving him some overs in the upcoming IPL 2024 season. The banter continued, with laughter, as Dube expressed his hope that Dhoni was indeed paying attention to Raina’s playful suggestion.
Suresh Raina: “If Mahi bhai saw your bowling tonight then your 3 overs are fixed for CSK this season (laughs).”
Dube: “Mahi bhai please listen to Raina bhai (smiles).”
Afghanistan set a challenging target of 158 runs in their 20 overs, due to the stellar performances by Mohammad Nabi (42) and Azmatullah Omarzai (29). Their efforts played a crucial role in achieving a respectable total. India, however, faced an early setback in the chase, losing Rohit Sharma in the very first over. The innings saw a standout performance from Shivam Dube, who emerged as India’s top-scorer with an impressive 60 runs off 40 balls, featuring five boundaries and two sixes. Dube’s noteworthy all-round contribution earned him the well-deserved Player of the Match award. Notably, he also made valuable contributions with the ball, taking two wickets in the first innings.
