Following India's convincing 48-run victory over Australia in the fourth T20I, the star of the match Shivam Dube assessed the team's performance, particularly focusing on the bowling unit. Dube, who shone bright with 2/20 and 18-ball 22, acknowledged that the final total posted by the Indian batters was good enough when factoring in the ground dimensions at the venue. Despite defending what was seen as a modest score, the Indian bowlers delivered a stifling performance, executing their plans to perfection to secure the win.
Shivam Dube explains his bowling strategy
The collective discipline and precise execution by the bowlers proved decisive, allowing India to successfully defend the 167-run total. This commanding win not only sealed the win in the fourth match but also gave India an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match T20I series.
“167 on this ground is definitely a good score because the quality of bowling we have, the spinners, the fast bowlers... I trust them and the whole team trusts our bowlers. Definitely, it’s a T20 game and any of the batters can come and smack, but on this ground, where the side boundaries are big, we had planned it very nicely and we had confidence that we can stop them,” Dube said at the post-match press conference.
Dube reveals what shaped his match-winning show in 4th T20I vs AUS
Dube provided further insight into the bowling plans that led to India's successful defense. He explained his personal strategy, which involved bowling specifically towards the sides of the ground that featured bigger boundaries. This tactical approach aimed to make it difficult for the Australian batters to clear the ropes, compensating for the 'modest' total.
Dube also highlighted the immense support he received from the team's leadership, which he credited for boosting his confidence as a bowler. He specifically mentioned that head coach Gautam Gambhir, bowling coach Morne Morkel, and T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav all provided substantial backing for his role with the ball. This collective encouragement from the team management allowed him to execute his plans effectively under pressure.
“The plan was to bowl on the sides which have bigger boundaries because it is difficult to hit big. I think the boundaries were 80m plus. We knew it wouldn’t be easy to hit, [regardless of] how much you connect. Plan was to bowl smartly and when a batter is set, force him to hit on the bigger sides than the small sides. When I got the chance, I knew that I had to bowl, especially Morne, Gauti bhai and Surya prepared a good plan for me. Morne also helped me a lot. He gave some small, small tips which made my bowling better,” he further stated.
“In the nets, I practised a lot on how to deal with short balls because the bounce is more here as compared to India. It’s my first tour, but I am trying to settle down as soon as possible. Definitely, that was an important phase because at that time the scoring got slow, and I knew (Adam Zampa) was going to bowl. I never took chances against fast bowlers because they were bowling in the direction of the side boundaries. The plan was to rotate strike against the fast bowlers and attack the spinners when they come,” Dube concluded.