Dube took the Kiwi bowling attack to cleaners in Visakhapatnam.
India may have lost the fourth T20I by 50 runs against New Zealand in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday (January 28), but Shivam Dube left a lasting impression on everyone with his explosive batting.
Chasing 216 to win, the Men in Blue were reeling at 82/5 when Dube walked out to bat. The all-rounder went on to smash 65 off just 23 balls with 3 fours and 7 sixes to keep India’s hopes alive.
The southpaw looked set to take the hosts beyond the finishing line single-handedly, but his unfortunate run-out in the 15th over proved to be the final nail in the coffin as India’s innings eventually folded for 165 in 18.4 overs.
After his valiant effort with the bat, Dube opened up about his evolution as a T20 cricketer and how he has become a “smarter” player thanks to regular opportunities at the highest level.
The tall left-hander also highlighted the improvement in his game against pace and three towering sixes off Jacob Duffy and Matt Henry was a proof of the same.
“It’s just the hard work which I’m doing. I’m getting better with my mindset because I’m playing all those matches and batting in that situation,” Dube said in the post-match presser. “So, I know what’s going to happen, what are the main things which a bowler is going to come to me.”
He mentioned that added responsibility has played a part in his growth, even though he didn’t get a chance to bowl in the fourth T20I.
“That’s the key point for my batting and bowling as well. I’m bowling thanks to Gauti bhai and Surya bhai. They have given me the bowling opportunity. So, when you bowl, you become a little smart. I’m working on that as well and trying to develop some more skills,” Dube added.
Shivam Dube attributed the upgradation in his skills over the past few months to experience.
“There is something called experience and that has come to me and that is going in the right direction,” Dube said. “All the players upgrade themselves… I can’t be the same as I was. I try to be a little better, a little smarter in the next game.”
Dube took only 15 balls to reach his half-century — the third fastest in T20I history — and it came without chasing milestones. “I was focusing on every ball. I was not thinking about getting a fifty in 15 balls,” he remarked.
Reflecting on his brutal 29-run over against leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, Dube said: “I knew that even he is a little scared, he was going to bowl me the bad ball. I was ready for that. So I wanted to dominate — and that is what I did.”
(With TOI Inputs)