IPL 2021: This Knock Is Totally For My Team - Shivam Dube After Scoring Match-Winning 64 Against CSK

Rajasthan Royals (RR) all-rounder Shivam Dube dedicated his knock to the team which is currently struggling to find a place in the top four. He scored a fluent 64 off 42 balls against table-toppers, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), and helped his side chase down the daunting target of 190.

RR has been struggling to stitch good performances on a consistent basis but the group came together when it was needed the most. The batting lineup, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dube in particular ripped the CSK bowling to shreds on what was the best batting track of the second leg so far.

“Obviously, this knock was much needed for me as well as my team at this moment. And this knock is totally for my team. Because we are on number seven right now and we need to qualify and if we play really well (in) the other two matches, we’re gonna qualify, so it was important,” Dube stated in the post-match press conference.

It was Dube’s first match here in the UAE phase of the IPL 2021 season and he made it count. He revealed he wasn’t part of the playing XI as the team combinations needed to be spot on. He was finally given an opportunity and Dube made sure he will continue to stick around in the playing XI.

“And talking about (being) benched, yeah, it is about the team, what combination the team goes on, it is on the coaches and the support staff and the captain and I was waiting for my chance and I got the chance and I performed well,” he added.

Sanju rotated bowlers well so I didn’t have space to bowl today – Shivam Dube

The all-rounder bowls medium pace deliveries which are quite suited on slow tracks. Since it wasn’t a typical slow surface as we’ve seen so far in the UAE, skipper Sanju Samson didn’t require the services of Dube. Quizzed on why he wasn’t asked to bowl, Dube said:

“I think you need to ask Sanju (Sanju Samson) for this, I am not the right person to give the answer (laughs). I think we had five bowlers and Sanju was rotating them very well, so didn’t had (have) any space to bowl today.“

RR now has 10 points from 12 matches and needs to win its last two games to stay in the competition. A loss would mean they need to rely completely on the results in other matches.

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