Shivam Dube is facing immense scrutiny over his place in India’s playing eleven for the ongoing T20 World Cup due to failing with the bat and under-utilization as a bowler. Whereby fans and experts are concluding that he should be replace by Sanju Samson or Yashasvi Jaiswal.
He was include in the world cup squad after his splendid batting form for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) during IPL 2024. However, he has failed to replicate the same performance in this tournament.
Dube impressed Rohit Sharma and BCCI selectors by hitting sixes off spinners in the middle overs. While playing for Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2024 as compared to players like Shubman Gill and Rinku Singh who were keep among reserves.
However, Dube has scored a mere 44 runs out of four innings played thus far in this World Cup; with a top score of an unbeaten 31 against USA. Also, considering how less frequently Rohit uses him as a bowler also gives more reasons why someone else can replace him.
So far, Rohit only asked him to bowl one over which he had done during the match against USA where he conceded 11 runs. Significantly, even in IPL 2024, there was only one occasion when Shivam Dube bowled.
Whereas Jaiswal should open with the captain unless Rohit decides to bring back Kohli at number three and draft both of them ahead of Sanju Samson. At five if dropped from this team instead of putting their faith on Jaiswal who is also very competent middle order batsman unless Kohli himself pushed up above Sharma as well just like what we saw happen during last year’s T20 World Cup games held here.”
Both these players have so far been warming benches throughout this world cup twenty while Kohli went ahead one step higher than usual position taken together with Rohit as opener. Unfortunately it has not worked out and Kohli’s four innings in the tournament are 1, 4, 0, and 24.
“This is what I was talking about when I said even before the beginning of the world cup that if dube does not bowl his one or two overs then either. Samson must be there in middle to change the game or Jaiswal opening batting and Virat at no.3,” he added.
Shivam Dube is another player who could suffer because Sreesanth told me way back on Day One of this World Cup. Which meant that if Dube did not bowl his quota of one or two overs then it should either be Samson batting next who can turn things around quickly or Jaiswal coming out at top for India with Virat Kohli taking guard after him at third spot.”
Another school of thought however holds that considering Bangladesh’s penchant for spinning their bowlers more often than not in matches like these. Where there’s every likelihood they would rely heavily on slower paced deliveries against Indian batsmen. Hence they may want to give Dube one more chance to prove himself with bat but again even this argument could be wrong because Samson is also a decent player of spin bowling.
Many things for Rohit and Dravid to think about.
