All-rounder Shivam Dube starred with the bat in Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) comprehensive 23-run victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at DY Patil Stadium, Mumbai on Tuesday (April 12).
Batting at No. 4, Dube slammed 95 not out off 46 balls to propel CSK to a mammoth 216/4 in 20 overs. His knock was studded with 5 fours and 8 gigantic sixes.
In the process, the southpaw also shared a 165-run stand with Robin Uthappa, who smashed 88 off 50 balls. It was the highest partnership for the third wicket in the history of IPL.
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Speaking after the game, Shivam Dube said he was pleased to pull off things he was trying for a while.
“I am able to do things, which I was trying for a while. The things I was doing in Ranji Trophy, at the domestic level, but after coming to this (IPL) level, you have to come one level up.
“So, I was trying to keep the balance, not think much and back myself. I am following my basic game, not doing anything extra. But yes there is one thing, my confidence is high and I am playing well,” Dube said at the post-match press conference.
The lanky left-hander further said that the team management has given him the license to go after the bowlers while he is also backing his game.
“(The team management) has given security and at the same time I back my game. I feel the ball which I can hit, I do that and I am able to connect well, so my confidence is high. I’m trying to play my own game,” said Dube, who recorded his highest score in the IPL.
Reflecting on his partnership with Uthappa, Shivam Dube said: “We didn’t speak much. The bowlers whom we thought we could attack, sometimes I was hitting, and sometimes he (Uthappa) was hitting.”
"The ball was gripping in the beginning, but we thought we would attack, but it was difficult in the start, the new ball was gripping, but we backed ourselves and the game turned out this way,” he added.
Chennai Super Kings will face Gujarat Titans in their next match at MCA Stadium, Pune on April 17.
(With PTI inputs)
