Indian all-rounder Shivam Dube has made a thrilling return to international cricket, following his ICC T20 World Cup 2024 victory in the USA and West Indies. He is now making an impact on the current tour of Sri Lanka, where India is engaged in a three-match ODI series.
Dube has been frequently featured in the limited-overs format during this tour. Although the first ODI between India and Sri Lanka ended in a tie, Dube relished his return to the 50-over format after a five-year hiatus.
Shivam Dube shines in long-awaited ODI comeback during tense tie against Sri Lanka
After a lengthy break since his debut in 2019, Shivam Dube made a significant impact in his second appearance during the first ODI of the current three-match series against Sri Lanka. Dube’s performance was impressive, showcasing his all-round abilities in a tightly contested game in Colombo.
He delivered a commendable bowling spell, taking 1/19 in 4 overs, and contributed 25 runs off 24 balls with the bat. Despite the match concluding in a dramatic tie, Dube was highly satisfied with his return and ongoing development as an all-rounder.
Dube is now focused on building on his recent form and emphasized the importance of regular bowling to secure consistent opportunities with the Indian team. He defended the team’s performance, noting that no team aims to lose and that the tie was a result of their competitive effort.
Feels really good: Shivam Dube on ODI comeback
Shivam Dube was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz: “It feels great whenever you play for your country. I played my first match in 2019; I got my second game in 2024, a long time. Feels really good. We played really well; at some point, we lost wickets. Every team wants to win the match; we didn’t lose the match and tied. I need to bowl regularly; I am working on it; good feeling for my side as well; I am enjoying it.”
Speaking about the ongoing second ODI against Sri Lanka, Team India started well and took control by taking the early wicket, with the Islanders’ score reading 135/4 in overs in Colombo. Well, before the start of the match, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma said that they are ready to chase again in Colombo after losing the toss to Sri Lanka
It is really important to play with freedom: Rohit Sharma
Rohit stressed that it’s crucial for the team to adjust their mindset based on the conditions and play with a sense of freedom and noted that both teams performed well in the first ODI despite the game ending in a draw. He also said that the team will remain unchanged and ready for the next challenge.
Rohit Sharma said at the toss: “It’s okay to chase again; we know what to expect when we chase. It has to be. You cannot always go and play with the same mindset and same way.”
