In the unpredictable world of cricket, one fascinating statistic stands out: India has remained undefeated in their last 35 T20 Internationals featuring all-rounder Shivam Dube. This impressive streak, which started in December 2019, highlights Dube’s growing importance as India prepares for key tournaments like the Asia Cup. What’s truly remarkable is Dube’s evolution and his newfound ability to excel in various match situations.
Initially, Dube was known primarily as a medium-pace bowler who could contribute with the bat. However, his powerful six-hitting ability quickly shifted the spotlight to his batting, earning him recognition from IPL franchises. Many experts even likened the Mumbai cricketer to Yuvraj Singh, touting him as a future star.
Unfortunately, this intense focus on his batting prowess led to a decline in his bowling contributions. In both the IPL and international matches, captains became reluctant to utilize him for his full quota of overs, a trend exacerbated by the ‘impact player’ rule. His struggles as a bowler were starkly highlighted in a February 2020 T20I against New Zealand, where he famously conceded 34 runs in a single over.
This period of declining effectiveness was compounded by bowling-related injuries. A lack of clear role definition chipped away at his confidence, and Dube found himself less in demand. However, his career took a positive turn after he was acquired by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in 2022.
According to his childhood coach, Satish Samant, joining CSK marked a pivotal moment. “Dube’s game and attitude completely changed,” Samant explained. “Working with figures like Michael Hussey and MS Dhoni instilled a greater sense of calm and assurance in his approach. He has greatly benefited and now feels confident about consistent backing from the team management.”
During his time with CSK, Dube evolved into a formidable hitter against spin, regaining the explosive power that makes him such a valuable asset. His stellar performances particularly impressed Rohit Sharma, who envisioned deploying the all-rounder against spinners on the slower pitches of the USA and West Indies for the T20 World Cup 2024. The 32-year-old embraced this role, delivering a crucial 27 runs off just 16 balls in the final against South Africa.
The current Asia Cup, however, has unveiled a new dimension to Dube’s game, surprising many who primarily viewed him as a batter. He has excelled with the ball, notably in India’s Super4s win against Pakistan. His spell in the middle overs effectively stifled the opposition’s momentum, claiming the wickets of Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan while conceding just 33 runs. During Dube’s crucial spell, Pakistan managed only 38 runs between overs 10 and 17, with India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav hailing it as the game’s turning point.
His coach further elaborated on this transformation: “His approach as a bowler is significantly improved. Dube is more aggressive now and has developed new weapons, such as slower deliveries, which he has honed extensively. The team management had a specific role in mind for him in the Asia Cup, and he has embraced it with great enthusiasm.”
Samant emphasized the positive impact of Team India’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel: “Working with Morne Morkel has been instrumental. Dube exhibits much greater focus while bowling now, which is clearly visible. This intensity was lacking before. He always had decent pace and bounce due to his height, but now he’s far more refined.”
Commenting on his performance against Pakistan, Samant noted, “Dube demonstrated a keen understanding of the match situation, bowling cleverly with a mix of slower balls and wide yorkers. His strategy centered on hitting the right areas and rising to the occasion. When a player receives strong backing from the team management, they naturally perform at their peak, and that’s exactly what we’re seeing with Dube.”
Dube’s increased effort in bowling during the tournament stems from a rigorous fitness and training regimen. “He is incredibly dedicated,” stated Yogesh Kanchgar, former Mumbai Ranji Trophy and current Indian table tennis team strength and conditioning coach. “He regularly trains with me, focusing on running and weight training, even undertaking these sessions before IPL 2025.”
Kanchgar added, “He has become leaner, quicker, and his body fat has transformed into lean muscle mass, significantly boosting his endurance. Dube is also very disciplined about his diet.”
An outstanding performance against Sri Lanka in the upcoming match could further cement Dube’s burgeoning reputation.