Aakash Chopra foresees Indias decision to persist with Shivam Dube for their 2024 T20 World Cup Super 8 clash against Bangladesh. The encounter between the two teams is slated to take place in North Sound Antigua on Saturday June 22.
The Men in Blue enter Saturday’s game after a dominant 47-run victory against Afghanistan in Barbados two days earlier. In their Super 8 opening on the same day, the Bangla Tigers were defeated by Australia in Antigua by 28 runs using the DLS system.
In a YouTube video, Aakash Chopra stated that India will continue to play Dube ahead of Sanju Samson. However, he conceded that the left-handed big hitter needed to start swinging the bat.
“Shivam Dube – I feel he will be given one more opportunity because the team is probably not comfortable with Sanju at No. 5. So you might still see Shivam playing there, but it’s mandatory for Shivam to score runs. That’s my second wishlist (the first being runs from Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma).”
Aakash Chopra
The former India opener stated that Dube must acquire confidence and resume his free-scoring ways.
“Both openers and Shivam Dube scoring runs is extremely necessary because if they don’t do that, they will go into the semi-final with zero confidence. The confidence is not being seen at all. You need that free-flowing Shivam Dube to be back, or else you might have to think of something.”
Aakash Chopra
Shivam Dube has amassed a total of 44 runs boasting an average of 22.00 and a remarkable strike rate of 83.01 throughout his four innings in the 2024 T20 World Cup. His defining moment unfolded during Indias exhilarating triumph over the United States of America where his unbeaten 31 proved pivotal in securing victory. However his performance in subsequent matches has left much to be desired.
“I want the top 5 batters to play 20 overs” – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra asked India’s top batsmen to play all 20 overs.
“There is no problem with Hardik (Pandya) but I have one more thing. I want the top five batters to play 20 overs because if Arshdeep (Singh), Axar (Patel), Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja), (Jasprit) Bumrah and Kuldeep (Yadav) get to bat, there is no point.”
Aakash Chopra
The reputable expert went on to say that Rohit Sharma and his team haven’t lived up to their full potential and must improve before the knockout rounds.
“It actually happened in the last match. Kuldeep and Bumrah didn’t get to bat but everyone else got to bat. So if everyone so low in the order is going to get to bat, that’s not right. We haven’t played cricket as per our potential thus far. Our both openers haven’t fired and our No. 5 hasn’t played very well and despite that, we are playing very well – so it’s time to iron out the creases.”
Aakash Chopra
Rishabh Pant (116) and Suryakumar Yadav (112) are the only Indian players to aggregate more than 100 runs in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Suryakumar twice and Rohit once are the only batters to have scored a half-century.