IND v WI 2019: Shivam Dube wants to do his best for the country and not focus on replacing Hardik Pandya

Dube has played three T20Is against Bangladesh and is likely to play three more against West Indies.

Shivam Dube | AFP

Mumbai all-rounder Shivam Dube has made his way into the Indian team because of Hardik Pandya’s injury. His primary goal is to the best he can for India and not focus on replacing Pandya in the long run.

Hardik Pandya is rehabbing after suffering from a back injury which has kept him out of the team for few months now. The all-rounder’s role was given to the young all-rounder from Mumbai, Shivam Dube, who was also picked up by the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the previous season of the IPL. He played three T20Is against Bangladesh and produced best figures of 3/30.

He told PTI, “I don't think it's an opportunity to replace Hardik but I think I have got a chance and I will try to do well for my country. I have got a job for my country and I will try to do that better.

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He also stated that he is enjoying the support he is receiving from skipper Virat Kohli and the team management. This also keeps him happy and relaxed inside the dressing room.

Everyone is supporting me. The support from captain and the team management was really good for me. They gave me a lot of confidence. So, I feel really happy and relaxed in the dressing room,” he added.

The 26-year-old also talked about the importance of fitness for an all-rounder. He is confident about his bowling and he prepares for good days as well as bad days on the field.

He said, “It's always difficult being an all-rounder. Most important for me is to maintain my fitness levels because as an all-rounder, you need to both bat and bowl. So, maintaining fitness is really a difficult job. I am very confident of my bowling. In T20 games, every bowler gets a bad as well as a good game. So, I try to prepare myself in very good situations and I feel that I can be a proper bowler who can bowl four overs. I have done that job.

Dube is confident that Team India will win the series even though the West Indies are a good T20I side.

They (West Indies) have got a good T20 side but we have prepared very nicely. I think India is the best team in world cricket and we will win the series,” he said.

(Inputs from PTI)

 
 

By Sameer Deodhar - 04 Dec, 2019

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