Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina backs Shivam Dube to be part of India’s T20 World Cup squad along with Hardik Pandya if the all-rounder achieves his dream form in IPL 2024. Shivam Dube joins is currently in excellent form in the ongoing series against Afghanistan. He has scored consecutive half-centuries and has also shown some of his talent with the ball in his hand.
Shivam Dube smoked 63 off 32 deliveries in the second T20I to chase a target of 173 set by Afghanistan with six wickets to spare. India has already won the series with an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series with Shivam Dube smashing half-centuries in both matches. India won the first T20I chasing 159 at Mohali with six wickets in hand.
During a discussion at Colors Cineplex, Raina was asked if Dube could be part of India’s T20 World Cup squad along with Hardik. He replied, “Of course, if Hardik Pandya is fit, Shivam Dube can bat too. Rohit Sharma is using it well. The IPL form will be very important. As captain or selector, I will take in-form players, who will score runs in the two months of the IPL, which will be played in different cities.”
“This is the Indian team. This is captain Rohit Sharma’s team. Rohit Sharma will definitely want fit players and Dube has impressed a lot, not just now but even in the entire IPL. He impressed a captain like MS Dhoni, who gave him confidence, and Rohit Sharma has given the same confidence,” the former India all-rounder added.
Suresh Raina praised Shivam Dube for scoring consecutive fifty. He particularly singled out the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player for looking to finish games, highlighting that it would be a big confidence boost for him. He has also shown some of his bowling skills in the series by taking two wickets in two games.
Shivam Dube and Yashasvi Jaiswal are knocking on the selectors’ door
The former cricketer was also asked about Shivam Dube’s big-hitting ability. He replied: “It’s because of the swing of the bat. He plays at full speed. He knows that if he does it in the middle, he will get the ball out of the ground. He has practiced like this. When you have a positive intention in your mind, both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube believe in total impulse rather than control impulse.”
The cricketer-turned-commentator praised Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube for their brave approach to batting. He said: “When you play at full speed, you get power even if you don’t use it in the middle because you make impact under your eyes. We saw a display of the fearless batting we talked about. This is the strength of our team.”
Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube added 92 runs for the third wicket. Jaiswal hit 68 off 34 balls with five fours and six maximums, while Shivam Dube scored 63 off 32 balls with five fours and four sixes. India will now face Afghanistan in Bengaluru for the last T20I of this series and the Men in Blue would look for a cover-up. India have an unbeaten streak of 15 home series wins in T20Is.
Shivam Dube and Yashasvi Jaiswal are knocking on the selectors’ door with these performances and are hungry for a place in the T20 World Cup. Selectors should keep these two in mind while choosing India’s team for the ICC T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to be held in June this year.