'Every match, I was ready to bowl': Shivam Dube reveals he was prepared to play all-rounder's role for MS Dhoni's CSK in IPL 2025

On September 10, India captain Suryakumar Yadav handed the ball to all-rounder Shivam Dube. The pacer answered the captain’s call by taking three wickets and playing a major part in UAE’s batting collapse. Dube ended up registering his T20 career’s best figures, taking three wickets for just four runs from two overs. After the match, the 32-year-old all-rounder who bowled just two overs in the entire Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), said that he was ready to bowl in every match.

Dube said that the impact player rule has been one of the main reasons he doesn’t bowl in the IPL.

"The answer lies in your question itself," Dube said when asked about the impact player rule in the post-match press conference. "The scheme of an allrounder has been reduced. Because of that, in the IPL, there wasn't a necessity for me to bowl. But, from my side, I was always prepared. Every match, I was ready to bowl. I was working really hard before the IPL also. I spent two months working on my fitness and bowling."

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Dube played all 14 games for CSK in the IPL 2025 but got to bowl in their final game of the season against Gujarat Titans (GT). Defending a total of 230, he bowled two overs and conceded 33 runs. He did not get a wicket.

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Dube credits Morkel for tweaks in his bowling

Dube credited bowling coach Morne Morkel for improvement his bowling. He bowled wider of the crease, made changes to his run-up and developed slower ball to have more options in his arsenal. He is ready to bowl his full quota of four overs if he gets the opportunity.

"At the England series [in January-February], he told me a few things. He told me to bowl from outside [wider of the crease] and to bowl slower [from a certain angle]. I have been working on that for a long time. He told me a few things about my bowling run-up too. Because of those two-three things, my bowling is getting better. My pace is also improving and I am getting confidence,” Dube said.

"Today's start was very important. As an allrounder, I am always prepared for four overs of bowling. Whenever I get an opportunity to bowl three-four overs, I am ready for it. I will try and do what the team needs."

Dube’s T20I bowling statistics

So far, Dube has bowled a total of 49.3 overs from 36 T20Is. While his economy rate of 9,07 is on the higher side, he has taken 16 wickets at an average of 28.06.