CHENNAI: When the IPL started, Shivam Dube‘s name wasn’t getting too much traction for a place in the T20 World Cup squad.
But with the IPL at its halfway stage, the Chennai Super Kings player has been able to create a buzz. Starting off the tournament as CSK’s designated spin-hitter in the middle-order, the tall left-hander has shown that he can be dangerous against medium-pace as well.
In the eight games he has played so far, Dube has smashed 311 runs at a strike rate of 169.94, kick starting the discussion on whether he should board the flight to USA and West Indies in June.
But at the end of the day, it is a 15-man squad and there aren’t too many slots available. Though Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya hasn’t done anything in the IPL with bat or ball, it is unlikely that the selection committee will dare to drop him for the World Cup.
The fact that Dube hasn’t bowled at all in the IPL so far – courtesy the ‘impact player’ rule – has left the selectors in the dark about the allrounder’s current bowling form.
CSK coach Stephen Fleming, though, said that Dube is bowling at the nets and keeping himself ready. “He is working hard on his bowling in practice. With the impact sub rule in place, he’s not getting the chance during the match, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t putting in the hard yards,” Fleming said.
Former national selector Devang Gandhi, who was the coach of Delhi during the last domestic season, thinks that even if Dube doesn’t bowl in IPL, he has the capability of pushing in a couple of overs if required in T20s.
“He has been in magnificent batting form and I have seen him bowl in Ranji Trophy. He won’t do a bad job if he is asked to bowl those couple of overs for India,” Gandhi told TOI.
While bowling is an add-on, it is Dube’s ability to generate easy power and clear the fence that has been one of the talking points of this IPL. His long levers have allowed him to launch into big shots and teams have been wary of using spinners against him. The medium-pacers, too, have come in for some rough treatment as Lucknow Super Giants quickies Mohsin Khan and Yash Thakur found out on Tuesday during the course of the left-hander’s 27-ball 66.
“The good thing about Dube this season is that he is lot more comfortable against quicker bowlers. He has worked on his game against pace and has really been a consistent performer for us so far,” Fleming said.
That said, Dube’s fight for a spot in the Indian squad can be with Kolkata Knight Riders’ Rinku Singh, who has done well for India whenever he has got a chance. While his chances in the IPL have been less, the left-hander has shown how good a finisher he can be. Add to that, Rinku is a superb fielder and the Indian team management has invested in him as a T20 player.
“It is a difficult choice no doubt, but the fact that Dube can be the extra bowling option can tilt the balance in his favour. And on pitches in the West Indies where the ball may just stop a bit and spinners play a significant role, a player like Dube can be a real game-changer,” Gandhi said.
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