"In T20s, you can struggle..." - Shivam Dube's stunning remark after match-winning all-round performance in 5th T20I vs Zimbabwe

Shivam Dube's all-round performance in the fifth and final T20I earned him the Player of the Match award at the Harare Sports Club on Sunday, July 14. Dube's impactful contribution with both bat and ball helped the Indian cricket team secure a convincing 42-run victory over Zimbabwe in the fifth and final T20I in Harare.

With this win, the young Indian brigade clinched the five-match T20I series by a 4-1 margin against the Zimbabwe Cricket Team. Notably, Dube played a crucial cameo of 26 runs off just 12 balls to take India's total to a competitive 167/6 in the final game against the hosts in Harare.

Shivam Dube delighted to be able to contribute with both bat and ball in India's 5th T20I win

Apart from his explosive batting, the Indian all-rounder’s tight medium-pace bowling proved instrumental in denting Zimbabwe's chase. He claimed two key wickets to help the men in blue bowl Zimbabwe out for 125 to finish the tour on a winning note on Sunday.

Additionally, Dube’s sharp fielding skills were on display with a crucial direct hit that dismissed Zimbabwe captain and star all-rounder Sikandar Raza in the final game in Harare. Reflecting on his performance, Dube expressed his delight in contributing across all departments of the game.

The Indian all-rounder also lauded the enthusiastic crowd at the Harare Sports Club, saying it takes only a couple of balls to get into the grooves in T20I cricket. Notably, Dube recently won the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 with Team India in the USA and the West Indies.

Shivam Dube said at the post-match presentation after receiving the Player of the Match award in Harare: “It's always a special thing to contribute in both departments. Took some wickets, very happy. In T20s, you can struggle but one shot and you can get back. The ground is big, we enjoy playing here, the atmosphere and the people are amazing.”

Good to have finished the Zimbabwe tour with a win: Washington Sundar

Meanwhile, India’s off-spin all-rounder, Washington Sundar, was instrumental in the team’s 4-1 T20I series win over Zimbabwe. Sundar finished the Zimbabwe tour with 8 wickets and won the Player of the Series award. He expressed satisfaction with finishing the series on a high note with a victory.

Reflecting on the conditions in Zimbabwe, Sundar noted that the conditions were quite similar to those in South Africa, with extra bounce and pace, especially after the first game. Sundar emphasized that the team had ample time to gather valuable insights and build confidence.

The all-rounder admitted that there were numerous takeaways and learnings from the T20I series, which would be beneficial as they head into the upcoming series against Sri Lanka. Sundar also pointed out the team's overall success on the Zimbabwe tour was satisfying.

Sundar said after the match: “Good to have finished with a win. After the first game, the conditions were similar to South Africa getting that extra bounce and extra pace. We had enough time to get a lot of information. Lots of takeaways, lot of learnings, lot of confidence going into the Sri Lanka series. We had a lot of success as a team.”