Dube’s career-best 3-4 vs UAE proves he’s not just a middle-overs spin-basher, but has worked on his pace bowling to give India more options going forward
Shivam Dube (left) celebrates with teammates after dismissing UAE’s Dhruv Parashar on Wednesday. Pic/AFP
During IPL 2025, most of which he played as an impact batter for Chennai Super Kings, Shivam Dube bowled just two overs, conceding a staggering 33 runs. Until Wednesday, he averaged less than an over and a half across 35 T20Is, bowling his full quota of four overs just twice.
Viewed largely as a middle-overs muscler of spin, his role definition seems to have changed. Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir want to eke more out of the strapping 32-year-old Mumbaikar — more with the ball.
Strength, a key factor
Dube is a strong man, affirmed by the length of his sixes and the effortlessness with which he clears the ropes. Seeking to make the most of that strength, the leadership group has asked of him to perform the all-rounder’s role which can offer the captain greater flexibility while selecting the XI. Responding to the urgings, Dube has worked on his medium-pace which is now brisker than before, and on his control which, admittedly on limited evidence, he has done with zealousness.
Despite the presence in the larger squad of Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, India opted for just one specialist pacer in their T20 Asia Cup opener against UAE. For the first time in six years, Jasprit Bumrah bowled three overs in the Powerplay; India also managed three further overs of pace of varying intensity from Hardik Pandya and Dube, which should embolden them further to play their troika of frontline spinners in Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav.
Dube hasn’t been a reluctant bowler by choice, but with India determined to rewrite their T20 blueprint, he will be pressed into service more often going forward. “The captain and the coach had told me beforehand that I will bowl and they are confident about me,” Dube said after returning a T20I best three for four, a touch flattering, but no less deserved.
“I have always prepared for four overs as an all-rounder. Whenever I get an opportunity to bowl three-four overs, I am ready for it. During the England series [at home in January-February], Morne Morkel [the bowling coach] told me to bowl from wide of the crease, a couple of things related to the slower ball, a few things about my run-up. I have been working on that; my bowling is getting better, my pace has improved.”
As an all-rounder, Dube will never become Pandya 2.0, but he is content being Dube 1.0. “Hardik is a player from whom I always learn. He is like a brother to me. He has a lot of experience in international cricket and IPL. I feel that I can learn a lot from him regarding bowling and batting,” he noted.
Pairing up with Pandya
Two overs is too short a span to tom-tom about the dawn of a new phase and Dube won’t rest on his laurels — not that he will be allowed to, either. But with spin likely to play a dominant role before and during the World Cup, if he can complement Pandya and add an additional string as another, more-than-part-time seamer, it’ll be win-win all the way.
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