Shivam Dube Shares Conversation with Rohit Sharma that Paved His Way to T20 World Cup Selection
Shivam Dube, the 30-year-old all-rounder, confessed to experiencing sleepless nights in anticipation of the squad selection for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Despite making his T20I debut in 2019, Dube had been out of the limelight until his remarkable performance in the Indian Premier League for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2023. This led to his recall to the Indian team for the Ireland tour.
Dube’s journey back to the Indian team started with his outstanding performance in the middle-order for CSK in IPL 2024. Even before this season, Dube had already made a strong case for his inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad with a Player of the Series performance against Afghanistan in January.
Yuvraj Singh Analyses India’s T20 World Cup Squad Options
T20 World Cup ambassador Yuvraj Singh delves into the potential choices for India’s tournament squad.
Dube’s impressive scores of 60* (40) and 63* (32) caught the attention of the management. He shared a conversation he had with captain Rohit Sharma, who was also making a comeback in T20Is in that series.
“When I was selected for the Afghanistan series, Rohit [Sharma] bhai told me I would get a chance to bowl and bat as well,” Dube revealed in a video on BCCI.tv.
“He urged me to ‘show us what you can do.’ When the captain expresses such faith in you, it motivates you to perform. My only focus then was how I could contribute to the team’s victory.”
Dube’s exceptional performance in that series put him in the running for selection in the squad for the mega event. However, his phenomenal run in IPL 2024, with 26 sixes in nine innings, sealed his spot in the 15-member squad.
Dube attributes his success to the mindset instilled in him by MS Dhoni and CSK head coach Stephen Fleming.
“When I joined the CSK setup, Mahi [MS Dhoni] bhai and [Stephen] Fleming told me to hit. But they never pressured me to hit from the first ball,” Dube explained. “They understood the risks involved. Knowing they had faith in me, I didn’t feel the need to take unnecessary risks in my first 10 balls.”
Many have noticed a striking similarity between Dube’s hitting and that of Yuvraj Singh, who was recently announced as an ambassador for the 2024 tournament.
“It’s flattering when people compare my batting to Yuvraj’s,” Dube said with a laugh. “If I can perform like him, it would be great. When I joined the national team, Ravi bhai [Shastri, the then head coach] told me ‘you hit sixes like Yuvraj Singh.’
“From Yuvraj, I learnt the art of covering up even if I don’t hit off the first seven-eight balls. It’s something I’ve mentally prepared myself for. If people think I can hit like Yuvraj, maybe I actually can. It’s all about applying the right techniques at the right time.”