Across the last two IPL seasons, Shivam Dube has hit 51 sixes, the most by an Indian. Among overseas cricketers, only Jos Buttler (59) and Liam Livingstone (53) have hit more.

Of batters with more runs at a better strike rate over the same period, only Glenn Maxwell (177), Livingstone (174), and Suryakumar Yadav (168) have scored at a rate quicker than Dube’s 157.

Of batters with 300 runs in the middle overs in IPL 2023, only Yadav (181), Heinrich Klaasen (175), and Shubman Gill (159) scored quicker than Dube (151). Of those with 200 runs against spin in the same season, only Klaasen (191) struck at a better rate than his 176.

All that should have brought Dube in contention for a spot in the Indian T20I side, especially since he bowls seam. True, he is not Hardik Pandya. With the ball, Dube matches neither Pandya’s pace nor adaptability. But batters who bowl seam are a rarity in India. There are seamers who can bat, but not the other way round. Vijay Shankar is perhaps Dube’s nearest contender in this aspect.

Yet, Dube has not been part of India’s first XI plans. He had played 12 times for India before the pandemic, but when international cricket returned, he did not.

He got a look-in only in 2023, when India rested their first-choice players – in Ireland and at the Asian Games. He impressed in his first international innings after three and a half years, adding 42 in two overs with Rinku Singh. He was in the squad for the five T20Is against Australia, but did not get a single game.

By then, India had been narrowing down on their final squad for the T20 World Cup. They left Dube out of the South Africa tour. They would probably have recalled Dube for the Afghanistan series even if Pandya had not been injured, but that would have been to rest the perennially injury-prone Pandya.

The growing uncertainty over Pandya’s availability for the T20 World Cup, let alone the IPL, forced India to pick Dube, for these were their last T20Is before the tournament. At Mohali, they already had Washington Sundar and Axar Patel in the XI, but still picked a third all-rounder in Dube.

Given that he was picked as Pandya’s potential cover, it was only expected that Dube would get a bowl. Rohit Sharma timed his entry well, bringing him on immediately after Rahmanullah Gurbaz fell. Dube took out Ibrahim Zadran with his second ball.

He got another over, but that was it for the night. He finished with 1-9 off two overs. Four of those runs came off his last ball. He had not failed as the sixth bowler. He now had to impress with the bat, his primary suit.

Rohit’s tragicomic run out and Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s googly to dismiss Shubman Gill brought Dube to the crease inside four overs, probably before he would have expected to. He took his time, even playing out a maiden to Mujeeb, who put up an outstanding show even by his standards.

He lost Tilak Varma, but continued with an eye on the asking rate. By the 15th over he had brought the target down to under a run a ball. His fifty took him 38 balls. He took two more to reach sixty and finish the game, earning accolades.

Excited about Shivam Dube's batting success, yet equally impressed by his two impactful overs. If he can sustain his bowling prowess, he could be a valuable asset, providing the much-needed balance in white-ball cricket. Well done Team India! #INDvsAFG

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) January 11, 2024

SUPER start for the season from Shivam Dube 👌 #INDvAFG

— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) January 11, 2024

It is not easy being Dube at this point. To stay in contention, he has to impress several times in the series. Even if he does that – and adds an outstanding IPL performance to the mix – he is still likely to make it to the T20 World Cup squad if Pandya returns.

The best he can do at this stage is to keep doing his bit and wait. That journey has started well.