IND vs AFG: "MS Dhoni Has Rated Me Many Times As A Very Good Player" - Shivam Dube
Updated - 12 Jan 2024, 06:50 PM
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India all-rounder Shivam Dube credited MS Dhoni for his impressive performance in the first T20I match against Afghanistan. Shivam Dube emphasized that the guidance and valuable tips from MS Dhoni on batting in various situations helped him become a finisher.
The Rohit Sharma-led team secured a six-wicket victory in the first T20I of the ongoing three-match series against Afghanistan in Mohali on January 11. Shivam Dube emerged as the ‘Player of the Match’ for his contributions with both bat and ball in the series opener.
The 30-year-old produced a career-best performance in T20Is, scoring an unbeaten 60 off 40 balls, featuring two sixes and five fours. Dube also showcased his prowess, conceding only nine runs in two overs. He claimed the wicket of Ibrahim Zadran during the match.
Keep Taking To Mahi Bhai – Shivam Dube
In a post-match interview with Jio Cinema, Shivam Dube expressed his gratitude towards Dhoni, emphasizing the learning he gained from the legend. He considers the feedback from such an experienced player to be a motivating factor for his performance.
“I keep talking to Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni). He is such a big player and a legend. I keep learning from him. I observe him. He keeps telling me how to bat in different situations. He has given me a couple of tips (that has worked). He has rated me many times as a very good player. If he’s rating me as a good player, then I will play well. My confidence was very high,” Dube told Jio Cinema.
Dube was acquired by the Chennai Super Kings for Rs 4 crore in the IPL mega auction 2022. He showcased a promising performance that season, scoring at a strike rate of 156.22. During the IPL 2023, he scored 418 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 158.
The southpaw was benched throughout the three-match home series against Australia and later dropped from the squad for the South Africa tour. However, he made a comeback for the Afghanistan series and secured a spot in the playing XI for the first match.
I Made Use Of It – Shivam Dube
Shivam Dube mentioned that he has been working on his bowling and expressed satisfaction with the recent opportunity to bowl. He also shared that skipper Rohit Sharma told him that he would be bowling 2-3 overs regularly.
“As far as bowling is concerned, it didn’t come overnight. I was working on it. I was waiting for the opportunity to bowl also and today when I finally got that, I made use of it,” Dube further added.
“Rohit has told me that I will get to bowl 2-3 overs every match depending on the match situation. That is a big positive for me that I would get to bowl regularly,” he concluded.
The hosts took an unassailable lead in the three-match series with a victory in the first game. The second match will be played at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Sunday, January 14. The Rohit Sharma-led team hopes to clinch the series with one match remaining.
