Aakash Chopra believes Shivam Dube’s approach to batting mirrors Yuvraj Singh’s. He suggests Dube could be a front-runner for India’s 2024 T20 World Cup squad.
During the second T20I against Afghanistan in Indore, India was asked to chase 173 runs. In response, Shivam Dube delivered a powerful 63 not out off just 32 balls. This significant contribution led India to victory, securing the series prior to the final game in Bengaluru on Wednesday, with 26 balls to spare and six wickets in hand.
Aakash Chopra complimented Dube’s batting skills in a YouTube video. He pointed out the similarities between Dube and Yuvraj’s strokeplay. He elaborated:
“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.”
Aakash Chopra
Dube hit five 4s and four 6s during his game. The leftie also scored an unout 60 in India’s victory by six wickets in the first T20I.
Shivam Dube has the strength to clear big boundaries in Caribbean, says Aakash Chopra
Shivam Dube, in Aakash Chopra’s opinion, will be a great help given the West Indian circumstances. He thought to himself:
“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.”
Aakash Chopra
The former cricket player who is now a broadcaster supported his argument with instances of powerful West Indian players, saying:
“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.”
Aakash Chopra
If Dube maintains his form, Aakash Chopra believes he might prove to be a match-winner and a game-changer. The Mumbai all-rounder, he said, may be the missing X-factor that India needs.