Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has likened Shivam Dube to former Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh. Singh had a huge backlift during his heydays and Dube also has a similar batting style.
Dube has been in prolific form in the ongoing three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. The left-hander scored an impressive knock of 60 runs off just 40 balls in the opening game of the series against the visitors. Furthermore, he returned with impressive figures of 1-9 in the two overs he bowled to bag the Player of the Match for his all-round performance.
Dube continued his good form in the second game, returning with an unbeaten knock of 61 runs in the run-chase of 173 runs at Indore.
Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “Shivam Dube – the striking power the kid has. He is not a kid, he is 30 years old. He started late, didn’t play cricket for quite a few years in between, when he was a kid, due to some family issues. Almost left cricket and then came back. Scored a fifty against the West Indies in one match and then didn’t get that many opportunities.
“He was coming back again but he made 60-plus scores in the two matches he played here. The strike rate was outstanding in both matches and struck sixes one after the other. When he hits, he reminds you of Yuvraj Singh slightly,” the former India opener added.
The reputed commentator feels Dube is a serious contender for the T20 World Cup 2024 as he has the ability to hit towering sixes in the middle overs.
“I feel Shivam Dube is an extremely serious contender to go for the World Cup because you will need strength to hit sixes. You won’t be able to hit sixes with timing on the West Indies pitches. The grounds are big and the pitches are slow.”
“You need players who hit hard there. That’s why the West Indies players play like that – Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Rovman Powell – no one is a grafter, everyone tries to hit hard as runs are not scored there otherwise.”
The third and last T20I of the series between India and Afghanistan will be played at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on Wednesday.
