Mumbai: Shivam Dube has had a breakout year in 2024, finally fulfilling his potential as a powerful all-rounder. His impressive batting performances have secured him a well-deserved spot in India’s T20 World Cup squad, to be held in the West Indies and USA.
Dube’s journey began back in 2019, but it’s taken him over four years to truly showcase his abilities. His rise has put pressure on established star Hardik Pandya to maintain his form and position in the team. While Pandya remains in the squad, the selectors haven’t overlooked Dube’s hard work.
Dube’s year kicked off with phenomenal knocks in the T20I series against Afghanistan, scoring unbeaten scores of 60 and 63. The 30-year-old continued his hot streak in the ongoing IPL 2024, playing for the Chennai Super Kings under Ruturaj Gaikwad’s leadership.
Batting in the middle-order for CSK, Dube has become a nightmare for opposing captains. His power-hitting has forced them to rethink their bowling strategies, particularly against him. While not the team’s top scorer, Dube leads the charge with a whopping 26 sixes so far.
This dominance was evident during the recent CSK vs. MI match at the Wankhede Stadium. Despite Mumbai’s pacers leaking runs, Hardik Pandya hesitated to use his spinners against the in-form Dube. This tactic was heavily criticized by legends Sunil Gavaskar and Kevin Pietersen, who believed Pandya should have utilized his spin options.
Dube’s ability to handle both pace and spin has solidified his position as a complete player. He’s transformed himself into a force to be reckoned with on the world stage.
