Former Indian opener Kris Srikkanth slammed Shivam Dube’s performance after England registered a comprehensive 56-run win against India at Rose Bowl, Southampton on Saturday. Dube bowled a solitary over in the last game of the series and picked two wickets but conceded 22 runs. The left-handed batter was dismissed after scoring 14 runs off 10 deliveries. In the fourth T20I, Dube had managed 22 runs off 23 balls.
It has been noted that Dube has been found wanting against the fast bowlers and struggles a bit against short-pitch deliveries. Dube could only manage 85 runs in five matches of the series at an average of 21.25 and a strike rate of 130.77.
Furthermore, Dube failed to judge the ball when Harry Brook was on only three runs. The England captain went on to score 95 runs and the drop proved costly for India.
Kris Srikkanth said on his YouTube Channel, “It is impossible to do anything with Shivam Dube on the field. He is running circles around the ball. How can you ever win a match with his fielding? He keeps leaving goals, be it in the IPL or in international cricket. It’s a joke that he is an international cricketer and an all-rounder.
“Prince Yadav’s analysis got ruined only because of Dube’s drop. Not only does he drop the catch, he falls to the ground along with the ball. Things could have been different for Prince and India if Dube just took that catch. The joke is Dube is the replacement for Nitish Kumar Reddy in the ODI side. What great has Dube done to keep getting picked everywhere? He is a guarantee only to always drop a catch and give away 30 runs. Are you picking him for that?”
The 1983 World Cup-winning player said Axar Patel is clearly finished as a bowler after the left-arm orthodox spinner was taken for 63 runs in his four overs.
“Axar Patel is clearly finished as a bowler. He can only bowl in India with his flat and straight bowling. He is getting smashed every match to every corner of the ground. Krunal Pandya should play in his position. He atleast will bowl a bouncer and try other variations. He has bowled well on the flat tracks in Bengaluru,” said Srikkanth (via the aforementioned source).
“Axar has been given enough chances and should be dropped now. It is very unfair on Krunal Pandya. Everyone has seen Axar has no turn and will only bowl flat. Barring the rare match, Axar has been getting smashed at will. He doesn’t score runs with the bat also and gets smashed repeatedly with the ball.”
India and England will next take on each other in a three-match ODI series, starting Tuesday at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
