The Indian cricket team celebrated a memorable victory at Indore's Holkar stadium, securing a commanding six-wicket win over Afghanistan on January 14, thereby clinching a 2-0 series lead. Post-match, the atmosphere was light-hearted and jovial among the Indian players. Notably, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma indulged in a playful banter with Shivam Dube, with the trio sharing a hearty laugh, highlighting the positive team dynamics ahead of the crucial T20 World Cup year.
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Dube's selection in India's T20I squad for the series preceding the T20 World Cup 2024 raised some eyebrows, but his recent performances have silenced critics. Showcasing his prowess, Dube struck two unbeaten half-centuries and made significant contributions with the ball against Afghanistan in the first two matches of the series.
In the game in Indore, Dube's explosive 63 off just 32 balls, featuring five fours and four sixes, played a crucial role in India's comfortable win with six wickets and 26 balls remaining. Post-match, Dube expressed that captain Rohit Sharma is pleased with his contributions. His partnership with Yashasvi Jaiswal, yielding 92 runs for the third wicket, was instrumental in steering the match in India's favor.
“The skipper is really happy with my performance, he told me well played. We (Yashasvi Jaiswal) both are stroke players, we know our game. My role was to take on the spinners, but our plan was to both attack and finish the game early. There wasn't any target in mind, but we should have finished the game earlier,” Dube said after the game.
“There are many things that I have worked on, apart from skill it is about how mentally you prepare for the T20 game. How to handle pressure, and deciding which bowlers to take on. It isn't important to hit every ball,” he added.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
IND vs AFG: Jaiswal-Dube's electrifying fifties lead India to easy 6-wicket win, take unassailable 2-0 lead in series
IND vs AFG: After whirlwind knock in Indore, Yashasvi Jaiswal reveals what's it like to bat with Virat Kohli
