T20 World Cup 2024 – How Shivam Dube knew he was within the reckoning for the World Cup

Shivam Dube had a “lot of butterflies” and “sleepless nights” within the lead as much as India’s squad choice for the T20 World Cup 2024, however he had greater than an inkling that he was within the workforce administration’s plans.Final August, after greater than three years away, Dube earned a T20I recall on the again of a stellar run at IPL 2023. Dube had reinvented himself as a spin-hitter and was central to Chennai Tremendous Kings’ triumph that yr. He struck at 176.47 towards the spinners, and hit them for 22 sixes, probably the most by any batter in IPL 2023. He hit 418 runs in all within the season.Nevertheless, it wasn’t till January 2024 that he may replicate his IPL success on the worldwide degree. He struck unbeaten half-centuries back-to-back (60* and 63*) and was named Participant of the Collection for his 124 runs within the three-match sequence towards Afghanistan at residence. He additionally bowled seven overs throughout three video games then.

“Once I received picked for the Afghanistan sequence, Rohit [Sharma, captain] bhai advised me I’ll [get a chance to] bowl and bat too,” Dube stated in a chat with bcci.television within the build-up to India’s squad announcement. “He stated, ‘simply present us what you are able to do.’ If the captain comes up and tells you we wish to see you do that, you simply categorical your self. I felt ‘I am now enjoying’, so my solely thought was how can I carry out and make the workforce win.”

Dube has continued his hitting type to date at IPL 2024. He is presently third (26) on the six-hitters checklist, behind Heinrich Klaasen (28) and Abhishek Sharma (27). He credit this batting transformation to his transfer from Rajasthan Royals to CSK forward of the 2023 season.

“Once I got here into the CSK setup, Mahi [MS Dhoni] bhai and [Stephen] Fleming advised me that it’s a must to hit. However they’ve by no means stated it needs to be from the primary ball,” Dube stated. “Even they know doing that may be dangerous. It was in the back of my thoughts that if they’ve the religion in me, why ought to I take undue dangers in my first 10 balls?

“That plan was, sure, I am hitting [big] now, however how can I do it proper via? Mentally, I ready myself to see what my strategy must be if a bowler bowls a selected ball. It took a while for me to use this, however I am set now. I watch the ball rather well, and because it hits the bat, I get the texture that it is gone, it is executed, it’s going to go for six and go lengthy. Particular because of CSK. They introduced me up their approach and it has labored for me.”

Dube’s bat swing and clear hitting has elicited comparisons with Yuvraj Singh at his peak. Dube chuckles on the point out of his identify alongside Yuvraj’s, however hopes he can develop the identical type of consistency to go together with his six-hitting skill.

“Sure, there may be some resemblance to Yuvraj Singh,” Dube stated. “It feels good when individuals liken my batting to his. If I may carry out like him, it’s going to be good. Once I got here into the Indian workforce, Ravi [Shastri, then head coach] bhai advised me ‘you hit sixes like Yuvraj Singh.’

“From watching [Yuvraj] bat, I’ve learnt even when he would not hit off the primary seven-eight balls, he coated it up in the direction of the tip. I’ve learnt that and ready mentally for it too. If individuals assume I can do that [bat like him], perhaps I actually can. Why not? It is necessary to use the proper issues on the proper time.”