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Shivam Dube played a pivotal role behind Team India's successful campaign at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. In the final match of the event, against their arch-rivals, the Pakistan National Cricket Team, the Indian star all-rounder did well with both bat and ball.
The final of the men's cricket event at the Games was on October 3, and the T20I series opener with West Indies will be on October 6 in Lucknow. Ahead of the India vs West Indies 1st T20I match, former Team India cricketer Aakash Chopra explains why Shivam Dube is a much-needed member for the Indian cricket team.
Aakash Chopra assesses Shivam Dube
During a conversation in a Cricinfo video, Aakash Chopra was asked whether Dube deserved more credit from cricket fans and experts.
In response, Chopra stated that he felt that Dube barely received the credit he should get. Aakash Chopra expressed that the pace bowling all-rounder has immense batting quality against all kinds of bowlers, especially against spinners,s to take big shots.
Shivam Dube doesn't get enough credit: Aakash Chopra
Additionally, because of his all-round credibility, Dube allows the team to craft a well-balanced playing eleven, ensuring depth in the batting order. Like the recently played 2026 Asian Games men's cricket event final, Aakash Chopra mentioned Shivam Dube was pivotal behind Team India's 2026 T20 World Cup triumph.
"Oh, yes, of course. I think he doesn't get enough credit. He's got exceptional skill and quality to hit sixes. He takes down spinners for fun. He also allows the team to plan accordingly as far as their batting resources are concerned, something that India did throughout the 2026 World Cup-winning campaign, where it was, if it was against England, they just threw him in before Surya (Suryakumar Yadav) could walk out," Chopra said in the video.
Aakash Chopra explains why Shivam Dube is important for Team India
Chopra further pointed out that as a middle-order batter, Dube mostly came to bat at the time when the spinners were deployed to slow down the run rate or to take wickets. Dube, with his prowess to take long shots, often played handy knocks for the Indian cricket team. In the recently played final match against the Pakistan cricket team, the dependable all-rounder claimed a brace with the ball and scored 27 useful runs with the bat.
"The same thing was done earlier, and now you just have him there. Knowing well if there is a period where spinners are likely to dominate, you throw him in, and he'll take them apart. And to do that in big games, finals, like World Cup finals, it takes some doing;g it is exceptional. He and all should be accredited and applauded a little more, is what I feel," the former opener added.
Does Shivam Dube deserve more credit? 🙌 https://t.co/brgeqJl2uF
— Cricinfo (@cricinfo) October 4, 2026
Dube is expected to remain in India's playing eleven during the upcoming 5-match T20I series against the West Indies National Cricket Team.
