Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has opined that Shivam Dube will be the crucial X-factor for India in their T20 World Cup campaign. This statement comes in light of Dube’s impressive form in the Afghanistan series and the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.
Shivam Dube’s rise to fame
Shivam Dube has been gaining a lot of attention since the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced their squad for the World Cup. Dube showcased his brilliance with the bat during the Afghanistan series, where he scored a total of 124 runs in his two appearances and also took two crucial wickets. His performance in the series was so impressive that he was named the man of the series.
In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Dube continued his impressive form for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), where he scored 396 runs in his 14 matches. His consistent explosive nature with the bat has heightened the anticipation for Dube to be a great addition to the India batting order.
Raina believes that Dube’s ability to stand still while hitting big sixes is very rare and can be the X-factor for India to win the World Cup. He also mentioned that if the situation arises, Dube can also bowl for the side. This versatility makes Dube a valuable asset to the team.
“He has to play in the World Cup. See, the ability to stand still while hitting those big sixes is very rare. Shivam Dube can be the x-factor for India to win the World Cup. So Rohit will have to take the call whether he wants to play Virat (Kohli) up the top, but then Yashasvi is also batting with a different kind of flair. If the situation arises, Shivam can also bowl for the side,” Raina said.
Up, Up and Away!
Three consecutive monstrous SIXES from Shivam Dube 🔥 🔥🔥#INDvAFG @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/3y40S3ctUW
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 14, 2024
Dube’s impressive form is not just limited to his international performances. He had a stellar run at IPL 2023, where he reinvented himself as a spin-hitter and was central to Chennai Super Kings’ triumph that year. He struck at 176.47 against the spinners and hit them for 22 sixes, the most by any batter in IPL 2023. He hit 418 runs in all in the season.
Dube’s bat swing and clean hitting have elicited comparisons with Yuvraj Singh at his peak. While Dube chuckles at the mention of his name alongside Yuvraj’s, he hopes he can develop the same kind of consistency to go with his six-hitting ability.
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