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Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has publicly expressed his support for Shivam Dube's inclusion in the Indian squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Dube's recent performances in the T20I series against Afghanistan have caught Ashwin's attention, particularly his consecutive half-centuries that played a pivotal role in India's 3-0 series sweep. Beyond his batting prowess, Dube's bowling, albeit yielding only two wickets, also made a significant impression.
Ashwin's backing comes in light of Dube's all-around capabilities demonstrated in the series. His batting style, coupled with his height and reach, drew a comparison from Ashwin to Indian cricket legend Yuvraj Singh, albeit as a 'lite version.' This comparison underscores Dube's potential impact on the game, mirroring the kind of influence Yuvraj had during his tenure.
"Hardik Pandya is a crucial member of this Indian team. However, the emergence of Shivam Dube... Just like how we divide eras into Before Christ and After Christ, we can divide his career into 'before CSK' and 'after CSK'. In West Indies conditions, which are almost CSK conditions, he is a spin-hitting monster," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
"I can proudly call him 'Yuvraj Singh lite' package. There are so many factoids about Yuvraj Singh that I could see in his game - the downswing, the height and the reach. I am not saying that he is like Yuvraj Singh, just saying he reminds me a lot of him. The beauty here is that he hits spin straight down the ground," he added.
In addition to his batting, Dube's evolution as a bowler has not gone unnoticed. Ashwin highlighted the all-rounder's development in adding more variations to his bowling repertoire, a skill that could be crucial in the T20 format's fast-paced and unpredictable nature.
"When Suryakumar Yadav is playing at one end, a team might try to suppress him by playing a left-arm spinner. When Shivam Dube is that the other end at this point, this is a great combination to have. The options that he gives to the team are tremendous. He can bowl two overs of his quota too. He has proved that he can bowl cutters and has developed a back-of-the-hand slower delivery as well. It has just added worth in gold going into this World Cup," Ashwin concluded.
Ashwin's endorsement for Dube is significant, considering the T20 World Cup's location in the West Indies, where playing conditions are similar to Chepauk – a factor that could play to Dube's strengths. The veteran off-spinner's support adds weight to Dube's candidacy for the World Cup squad, reflecting his belief in Dube's ability to contribute significantly to the team's success in the tournament.
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