Massive blow for CSK as Shivam Dube gets ruled out of...

In a recent development, the Mumbai team’s chief selector across all formats in the domestic circuit Raj Kulkarni has confirmed that Shivam Dube who captained the team during Ajinkya Rahane’s absence in their last match against Bengal 2 days ago, is all set to be rested for their second last Ranji Trophy 2024 group stage clash against Chhattisgarh.

It will be Mumbai’s first away game of the season, which is set to start from February 9 onwards at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium in Raipur. They will be without all-rounder Shivam Dube for the second time this season against a Chhattisgarh side that is currently placed 4th in the points table in the Elite B group.

Mumbai is the only team from the Elite B group to have won 4 games including a loss but without a draw. That has seen them take up the summit with 27 points along with a positive net run rate of 0.146. The 41-time champions barely missed out on a quarter-final spot last year after finishing 4th in Elite B.

In that group, Saurashtra who became the eventual winners, had finished on top with 26 points and were tied with the 2nd and 3rd placed sides – Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra but Saurashtra proceeded due to a better net run rate. This year, Mumbai has learned from its mistakes and has turned out to become an improved side.

One of the main reasons for that has been Shivam Dube who is looking in a very good form this year. During Mumbai’s opening clash of the season against Bihar, the left-handed batter scored 41 off 61 as Mumbai won by an innings and 51 runs.

Dube would then miss Mumbai’s 10-wicket win against Andhra before returning to the playing XI against Kerala and scoring a half-century in the 1st innings and scalping a wicket to help Mumbai claim victory by 232 runs.

Shivam Dube’s first century of the 2024 Ranji Trophy came during Mumbai’s 2-wicket loss to the hands of Nitish Rana’s Uttar Pradesh. After scoring a single run in the 1st innings, the 30-year-old scored 117 off 130 to score most of the target his side posted of 195.

Mumbai’s 5th home game saw them register an innings and 4-run victory over Bengal under the captaincy of Dube himself who had scored a quickfire 72 off 73 in his side’s 1st innings total of 412 runs. His impact on the most successful Ranji Trophy outfit has been truly amazing and it remains to be seen how Mumbai performs without him against Chhattisgarh.

“He Is Facing Some Stiffness In His Legs”, Mumbai Chief Selector Provides Real Reason For Shivam Dube’s Omission

Mumbai’s chief selector Raju Kulkarni stated that Shivam Dube had pulled up sore in Mumbai’s previous match against Bengal and has been feeling a bit of stiffness in his legs ever since. Therefore his omission from the Chhattisgarh match has been taken as a precautionary move and he is expected to be ready for the team’s final group match against Assam.

“Shivam has been given rest because he is facing some stiffness in his legs. It’s just a precautionary measure as there will be hardly any gap between our last league game and knockout matches. He will play against Assam and then in the knockouts.” – Raju Kulkarni said on Mid Day.