Cricket
IPL 2024: Shivam Dube makes strong case for selection in T20 World Cup
Former selector Devang Gandhi believes Dube can be picked purely as a batsman in the ICC showpiece. Dhawal Kulkarni, who has seen the player come up through the ranks in Mumbai, is hopeful that he can deliver as an all-rounder.
Image Credit: PTI
Shivam Dube has made a strong case for selection in the cricket T20 World Cup that starts in the West Indies and the USA on June 1. On a rampage against the bowlers, the left-hander has smashed two impactful fifties and 242 runs in his first six appearances for Chennai Super Kings in the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Dube has been striking the ball at close to 160. The pacers are struggling with their length, while the spinners are not getting to roll an arm when he is on strike. He is pulling, driving, cutting, and sweeping at his best.
By finishing games seamlessly, he has become a strong contender for the ICC showpiece, but the 30-year-old is an all-rounder. Not getting to bowl in the ongoing IPL while operating as an Impact batter could be a concern. The selectors may want to scan the complete skill set of a player before shortlisting the candidates. Dube, however, has the ingredients to fit the bill purely as a batter, if not a backup all-rounder to Hardik Pandya.
Long spells in the Ranji Trophy as a bowler
Former India fast bowler Dhawal Kulkarni, Dube's senior in the Mumbai domestic side, feels his state-mate should get selected for the T20 World Cup if he maintains consistency.
"He has been fantastic throughout the domestic season. He worked hard on his batting, bowling, and fitness. The results are showing now in the IPL. If he keeps performing this way, he deserves a call-up in the T20 World Cup," said Kulkarni who played 12 ODIs and two T20Is for India.
Image Credits: : T20 Mumbai
Being a veteran bowler with 285 first-class wickets, Kulkarni assessed Dube closely in the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 season, which Mumbai won under Ajinkya Rahane's leadership. Dube appeared in five matches and scored 407 runs, including two centuries and two fifties.
He picked up 12 wickets with his medium-pace and registered a match-winning spell of 4/10 against Bihar. "He did a fantastic job for Mumbai. He bowled long spells in the Ranji Trophy, which is a tick mark on his bowling," said Kulkarni, who has 86 IPL wickets in 92 matches across three franchises: Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, and now-defunct Gujarat Lions.
No bowling, no problem
Former India batsman and erstwhile selector Devang Gandhi feels Dube stands a chance to get selected for the World Cup "primarily as a batsman."
"Of course, if he can bowl a couple of overs if required, it will be handy. He has a bright chance to get selected since he also has international experience. Shivam has worked on his game and looks like a complete player now," Gandhi told Sportsboom.
"If you look at his temperament, you will see that he is not turning up and hitting every ball. He is playing the situation and showing a lot of maturity. All these performances are coming at the right time," he added.
Gandhi was part of the BCCI senior men's cricket selection committee that picked Dube in 2019. He was dropped after the fifth T20I in the tour of New Zealand in February 2020.
Seasoned after a three-year absence
Dube returned to T20Is after a three-year gap in August 2023 and scored two half-centuries since, both against Afghanistan earlier this year.
Image Credits: Cricfit
"He was a promising cricketer when we picked him. And he could always hit big. There were certain areas in his batting that he needed to work on. Certain things get exposed when you are playing international cricket, but he has worked hard on every aspect, even the mental space. He looks keen, assured, calm, and collected," said Gandhi.
Dube started the IPL with an unbeaten 34 off 28 while chasing 174 against Royal Challengers Bangalore. The 23-ball 51 came batting first versus Gujarat Titans, while the 18-ball 28 over Kolkata Knight Riders again while chasing. He took five games to settle down before exploding against Mumbai Indians with an unbeaten 66 off 38 balls, which included ten fours and two sixes.
Dube has already smashed 15 sixes. Romario Shepherd, Sai Kishore, Varun Chakravarthy and Rashid Khan are some of the bowlers who faced the onslaught. He will be hungry for more to cement his T20 World Cup chances.
The ICC expects the announcement of the provisional 15-member squads of all teams by May 1.
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Wriddhaayan Bhattacharyya is a cricket journalist based in India who takes a keen interest in stories that unfold on and off the field. His expertise lies in news writing, features and profiles, interviews, stats, and numbers-driven stories. He has also worked as a podcaster and talk show host on cricket-related shows on YouTube and Spotify.