(Credit BCCI)
Entering the pitch at 44/3 during a challenging run chase against the United States would undoubtedly have piled pressure on Shivam Dube’s towering stature. However, beyond the match dynamics at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in Long Island, New York, on Wednesday, Dube might have felt the additional burden of proving his worth in India’s squad.
Finding himself in such a predicament early in the T20 World Cup may appear puzzling for the 30-year-old. However, the scrutiny on any Indian cricketer, particularly one with limited experience at the highest level, is intense. Even a couple of below-par performances can lead to severe criticism.
In this T20 World Cup, the left-handed batter has experienced only one setback so far – he was dismissed for three runs off nine balls against Pakistan last Sunday. However, during his brief stint at the crease against Pakistan’s bowlers, he appeared to lack conviction.
In the warm-up match against Bangladesh, although unofficial, Dube struggled to find his rhythm. While others around him flourished, he managed just 14 runs off 16 balls, hitting only one six before being caught at long-on.
These two matches seemed to trigger a wave of criticism on social media towards Dube before the game against the US, despite being unbeaten on 0 in India’s victory over Ireland. The frustration towards the Mumbai-based batting all-rounder appears to have intensified due to the exclusion of Rinku Singh from the 15-member squad. The selection dynamics dictated that only one of Dube or Rinku could make it into India’s contingent, with Dube’s ability to bowl a few overs as a medium-pacer and his impressive form for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the time of selection earning him the nod.
Several factors contribute to Dube’s current situation. Firstly, the two-paced drop-in pitches at Long Island haven’t been conducive for Dube or any other batsman, with variable bounce and slower surfaces hindering his ability to utilize his natural strength of hitting through the line. Additionally, he may have experienced a dip in form in recent weeks. Since May, his scores have been 0, 0, 21, 18, 7, 14, 0*, 3, and 31*.
In such circumstances, Dube’s unbeaten 31 off 35 balls against the US, while not particularly flashy, was crucial. Even though he didn’t seem entirely convincing in this innings, successfully seeing off the run chase should boost his confidence as India heads into the Super Eight phase starting on June 19.
“I was struggling with my form and focusing on my process,” Dube said during an interaction with reporters at the mixed zone. “All the support staff and coaches backed me and told me, ‘It’s difficult, but you have the ability to hit sixes, so apply it.’ I’ve never doubted myself for what I’ve done in the past. I just think that these conditions do not demand what I’ve done at CSK. These conditions require a different approach. It’s not easy to come here and start hitting from ball one, you have to take your time.”
Dube’s subdued performance in this tournament can partly be attributed to his reputation as a power-hitter, particularly against spin bowling. Opposing teams are now wary of bowling spinners to him, as his aggressive batting style against spinners is well-known. For example, in the match against the USA, left-arm spinner Harmeet Singh didn’t even get a chance to bowl.
To evolve into a more versatile batsman at the international level, Dube must work on rotating the strike more effectively. He also needs to improve his technique against short-pitched deliveries. Against the Americans, he played 15 dot balls out of 35, which increased the pressure in what should have been a straightforward chase. His tendency to play with hard hands limits his ability to find gaps in the field. In high-stakes matches against top teams, relying solely on boundaries and sixes, as he does for CSK in the IPL, may not always work.
However, categorizing Dube solely based on his IPL success would be unfair. His overall T20I record for India is quite impressive, with 310 runs in 24 matches at an average of 38.75 and a strike rate of 131.35.
With the New York leg of fixtures concluded, Dube’s focus now should be on leaving behind this mediocre run and making the most of potentially better batting conditions in upcoming games. It all begins with the inconsequential match against Canada in Lauderhill on Saturday.
