Shivam Dube in T20 World Cup

Shivam Dube’s career graph is in two distinct halves: A forgettable three years after his international debut in 2019 followed by a blistering turnaround while playing for Chennai Super Kings. Over the years, Chennai has earned a reputation for reawakening the stagnant lives of several cricketers, thrusting them back into the limelight. Dube’s journey was no different.

A medium-pace all-rounder, Dube was touted as a potential back-up to Hardik Pandya, who was in between injuries at the time. However, there was little to remember him by in his first 14 games for India, one of which was an ODI. He made 105 runs in his first nine T20I innings and picked up five wickets. He failed to leave a mark in the IPL as well, averaging 22.16 with the bat in his first 22 games at a strike rate of 120.54. He also grabbed just four wickets.

Things turned around for Dube in 2022 when his strengths against spin were recognised by CSK, his new franchise. A well-defined role in the middle order saw him flourish and over the next three seasons, he made 1,103 runs at an average of 34.46, rising to the top 15 in the run-scoring charts. More importantly, it was his strike rate of 159.16 that made headlines. Only Suryakumar Yadav and Nicholas Pooran, both T20 behemoths, made more runs at a better strike rate than Dube.

A strike rate of 158.8 against spin and bowling potential meant it became increasingly difficult to overlook him for the T20 World Cup this year. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s dwindling numbers against the slower bowlers, Dube was also seen as a middle-overs enforcer. He was in direct competition with Rinku Singh, a youngster who struck at 176.23 in 11 T20I innings, but Dube's bowling helped him edge out Rinku, the other left-hander in the squad.

A call-up and the decline

Dube made 350 runs in nine IPL innings this season with three fifties before the selection meeting for the World Cup. He was expected to erase the memories of his first stint with the team, carrying on his form for the Yellow Army into the national set-up. But four games into the World Cup there are question marks over his place in the side, his IPL form in the first half of the season completely deserting him when it mattered the most.

Since the squad announcement, Dube has had a torrid time. His first two innings after the selection were golden ducks in the IPL and he went on to make only 46 more runs in his next three games. After a fine start to the season, Dube had a strike rate of 112.19 in his last five IPL innings.

In the World Cup, he has made 44 while batting four times. Against Pakistan, Dube struggled during his nine-ball three. The lack of footwork was a concern and he was also late in bringing the bat down against left-arm spinner Imad Wasim, who would have been a favourable match-up for Dube. He was eventually dismissed while trying to defend a length ball by Naseem Shah. His unbeaten 31 against the USA helped India chase down a tricky total but even that knock was not blemish-free. Against Afghanistan, Dube smashed a six against Noor Ahmad but fell soon after, reacting late to a quicker leg break by Rashid Khan that spun in sharply.

His extended poor form - he has made 90 runs in his last nine T20 innings - has brought him under the scanner once again. Picked majorly for his spin-hitting abilities, Dube has struck at 92.3 against them this World Cup. He has also bowled just one over thus far as India have packed in their XI with two spin all-rounders, which ensures that they wouldn't miss out on his secondary skill if they replace him. Dube is also not the safest fielder, with his dropped catch of Mohammad Rizwan turning the tide towards Pakistan before Jasprit Bumrah sent him back later in the game. So, with just two Super Eights matches to go, should India persist with him?

What are the options for India?

India have Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson in the squad, both of whom could slot in for Dube. Jaiswal is known for his aggressive batting as an opener but has been on the bench this World Cup as India decided to push Virat Kohli up the order. Kohli has struggled in his new position, making 29 runs in four innings and India could look to play him at his original spot at No.3 while opening with Jaiswal, who is also a good player of spin and struck at 171.19 against them last IPL.

Samson offers similar strengths as Dube and is a prolific run-scorer against slower bowlers. Among batters who faced 50 balls of spin in this year’s IPL, Samson had the seventh-best average against them (90.50), falling to them just twice in 10 innings. Though his strike rate was 139.23, it was because he looked to rotate strike against them instead of going on all-out attack. Last season, however, he had a strike rate of 168.46 against the spinners, suggesting that he is capable of going after them when needed.

Dube rightly deserves a place in the squad but India should try out their options before the knockouts begin. His poor run after being picked could be due to the unnecessary pressure of performance he might have put on himself. Whatever the cause, in a tournament as short as the T20 World Cup, bold decisions need to be taken. If that means India have to juggle with a line-up that has been working so far, something they have usually been wary of doing in ICC events, then so be it.

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