Shivam Dube, the all-rounder from Mumbai, scored his maiden T20I half century (54 off 30 balls) in the second T20I at Thiruvananthapuram. Dube’s knock consisted of 3 boundaries and 4 maximums. Earlier, in the T20I series decider against Bangladesh, Dube had taken three important wickets.
Thus, Team India bowling coach Bharat Arun feels that 26-year-old can be a good all-rounder at international level. While talking to media reporters in Chennai about Dube, he said, “He (Dube) is an exciting prospect and I think he is gaining in confidence from every game. Even you if look at the way he came back the way after he bowled the first over (in Mumbai) against West Indies, I think that was creditable.
“For Virat (Kohi), to show faith in him after the first over and also for him to bowl a good spell after that. And I think he is an exciting talent for us. As he gains in confidence, he will become a good all-rounder,” he added.
Arun was also all praise for seamer Deepak Chahar, who has done well in the recent T20 games for India. He said, "Deepak has been exceptional even in the IPL. He is someone who can move the ball both ways. He is also a very skillful bowler, bowling slow bouncers, yorkers, I think with so much skill on hand... let me put it this way, he has got everything in him to do well at the international level,"
Wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal haven't featured together for India in white ball cricket since the last few months.
When asked about that, he said, “See, we were looking at an ideal combination which lends absolute balance to the team. Also there was an option to use Ravindra Jadeja as an all-rounder. That really helped us. There may be occasions when there may be conducive conditions where both can be used.”
When asked about not having Washington Sundar in the ODI side, the 56-year-old said, “I am sure Washington in due course will stake his claim for the ODI team. Every time he is given an opportunity he has done well with the ball. I can that tell you he is more than a capable bat.”
“Every time he has got an opportunity, he has played a cameo. I am sure in the future he would be somebody who you would be considering for the one-day scenario as well,” he added.
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Looking ahead to the first ODI against West Indies on Sunday, he said West Indies' batsmen come after you there is always a chance for the bowlers.
"Definitely, I think yes. The last two out of three games we have won, the bowling also has done pretty well. I am sure we have the bowling to restrict them, but saying that West Indies are an extremely competitive side. But when their batsmen come after you, you also have a chance against them," he concluded.
(With PTI inputs)
