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India’s journey in the T20 World Cup 2026 had hit a big roadblock during their opening Super 8s fixture at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Facing South Africa on February 22, the Men in Blue suffered a stinging 76-run defeat. After the Proteas set a formidable target of 187/7, the Indian batting lineup collapsed under pressure, managing only 111 runs before being bowled out in 18.5 overs. This heavy loss to the 2024 finalists sparked intense public criticism and raised serious questions about the team's form.
We peaked after the loss against South Africa: Shivam Dube
However, star all-rounder Shivam Dube views that heavy night in Ahmedabad as the ultimate turning point for the squad. Speaking to the Indian Express following India’s eventual triumph in the tournament final, Dube reflected on how the loss served as a necessary wake-up call.
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He noted that while the team had been performing decently until that point, the defeat against Aiden Markram’s side forced the players to 'pull up their socks'. According to Dube, that disappointing result transformed them into a completely different, more driven unit for the remainder of the campaign.
“As a team, we peaked after the loss against South Africa. Before that game, we were playing well, but we all pulled up our socks after that. We were a completely different team, and our best came in the final", Dube said.
Following the wake-up call against South Africa, India’s batting unit underwent a massive transformation, consistently crossing the 250-run mark. They posted dominant totals of 256/4 against Zimbabwe, 253/7 against England, and 255/5 against New Zealand. Perhaps most impressively, the team showed their chasing mettle at Eden Gardens, successfully hunting down a stiff 196-run target set by the West Indies with four balls to spare.
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'My role was simple and communicated a long time ago by coach Gambhir and Surya bhai'
Dube was a central figure throughout this resurgent campaign, featuring in all nine of India's matches. The all-rounder proved his worth as a dual threat, accumulating 235 runs with the bat while contributing five crucial wickets with the ball. His consistency played a vital role in balancing the side during their high-stakes journey to the title. Regarding his specific tactical instructions, Dube revealed that the leadership duo of head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav gave him a clear mandate: prioritise a high strike rate. His primary objective was to maintain aggressive momentum by hunting for boundaries, a high-risk role that often puts middle-order batters under immense pressure.
Despite the inherent volatility of being a designated power hitter, Dube remains unfazed by the risk of failure. He maintains that he never viewed his job through a lens of uncertainty; instead, he relied on a deep-rooted self-belief. According to Dube, he always possessed the internal confidence necessary to execute those big shots when the team needed them most.
“My role was simple and communicated a long time ago by coach Gautam Gambhir and Surya bhai, keeping the strike rate high. If I’m asked to bowl, keep a tight line and keep the runs down. During the last World Cup too, I had a similar role, but that time I had only a couple of big knocks. This time, I told myself that I won’t think too far ahead and take things match by match. I always had the confidence and just backed myself. I had worked hard on it. There was clarity in what the team wanted from me. I didn’t promise anything to myself, and the goal was to win the World Cup at home," Dube concluded.
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