Shivam Dube: Complete Press Conference
(Reporter:)
Shivam, well played today. Shivam, could you tell us what role Surya and Tilak team assigned in third and fourth place? Because throughout the World Cup we see a lot of run and ball partnerships coming from both sides. From the outside, we lack a bit of purpose. So would you like to tell us specifically that it should be played deep and the goal should not fall at that time?
(Shivam Dubey 🙂
Sir, this is the World Cup. The game is a bit difficult, not easy. If we don’t get the start we want, then Tilak and Surya’s game is different. They are fired according to the situation. If the situation calls for it, he must bat accordingly. If Tilak has to bat in a particular situation then he will and I don’t need to say anything about Surya as he is the player who can lead the team to the best position.
(Reporter:)
From the last World Cup to this World Cup, you have become a much fitter player and you have also shown something different in batting against New Zealand’s attacking fast bowlers and you have also opened the bowling in the Asia Cup. So over the last 20 months you can just talk about your transformation and the kind of work you’ve put in to be this completely transformed player and a much better player.
(Shivam Dubey 🙂
It’s been a long time since I played my first World Cup and I realized what I need to do in the future to be better, not a batsman, an all-rounder. So yes, I prepared in all those departments which is batting, bowling and fielding. So I worked really hard on my fitness. I bowl well now, I bat well now. My bowling has improved because of my fitness. So that’s what I’ve been working on and all credit goes to Gautam and Surya for believing in me that yes, you can play for us. Batting too sir – I am batting.
(Reporter:)
When you came to the crease, the partnership had just crossed 30 runs in 28 balls. You have bowled 11 balls before your first boundary. What is your mindset in the 11 balls? Because it was already a slow type of partnership and it took you 11 balls – What were you thinking at the time? Did you panic? How did you cool off?
(Shivam Dubey 🙂
Yes, of course when you play dot ball in T20 you get pressure. But as a player, as a batsman at that time I know that maybe right now if I’m on 2 runs in 10 balls but in the next 5 balls if I hit 2 sixes it will be covered. So that thing will always remain in my mind Yes the wicket was gone so it’s important we have to build a partnership so even if 2-4 balls are hit it’s fine but it gets covered up later
(Reporter:)
You said in the last press conference that teams know your matchups, your strengths and weaknesses and plan accordingly, but you also have plans to counter them. How much has that awareness of the game helped you over the last two, three years, working in terms of understanding the situation and playing accordingly?
(Shivam Dubey 🙂
I got the opportunity to play in that situation. So when you play you are always learning. So I played and I became not very smart in this situation. So I know that yes, this pitcher can come to me on this ball. Those are strengths. I think a fast bowler can mix me up short, slower, but I’ve been working really hard on all those things and yeah, I’m getting better now. And game awareness is very important because if you know that the pitcher can throw you that ball, you’ll be ready for it. So that’s more important and it’s gotten better on my end.
(Reporter:)
In the Namibia game it was Erasmus, in the Pakistan game you played more bounces from Salman, Usman Qadir, Saim. How is Aryan Dutt talking in the team about tackling the off-spin challenge?
(Shivam Dubey 🙂
It’s nothing. It’s not talked about because sometimes some batsmen don’t hit some balls and yes it’s just one shot, they start batting one shot and yes there will be no talk of off spin in the upcoming matches.
(Reporter:)
When you moved to Chennai Super Kings, you had the reputation of being a middle-order shooter. Just to the previous question, you touched on how you got the awareness of attacking fast bowling, short bowling. Can you just elaborate a bit on the things you’ve done to improve your game, particularly against short pitch bowling and body bowling?
(Shivam Dubey 🙂
Yes, when I came to CSK, there was something I struggled with. And yes, I had a few runs that season. But it was important for me to come back strong next season because I knew I could dominate in the IPL and international cricket, so I worked really hard on the short ball in that offseason. So I knew it wasn’t easy. It won’t be easy. But yes, there is something. You give extra time. You play for a few extra balls in your time. And this is what I have.
(Reporter:)
To expand on the last few questions, as Shashank just said, we know you can hit sixes. But in today’s match, if you look at it, Ishan Kishan on loan, he faced eight balls. For all the batsmen who faced 10 or more balls, their strike rate was becoming somewhat problematic. You talked about hard work, confidence, fitness. But can you talk a little bit more about the ability to hit sixes? Because you went in and did it. You’re 50 on a 200 strikeout. So when other people are struggling or you see that, what clicks in you to go out there and do my best no matter what? Because it is the fearless brand of cricket that this team has become known for. But every game, whenever the team got stuck, someone raised their hand and it was you. Just talk about that ability to come in and just hit.
(Shivam Dubey 🙂
So it’s about who has the day. And I think all the players in our team are match winners. Anyone can hit big sixes on any given day. So today was something I felt like today is my day and I need to be a little bit smart and I need to push myself and I need to stay until the end but yeah I also need to back up my power so I did that and yeah the power is there that’s why I’m known as a power hitter.
(Reporter:)
It has not been a dominant batting display in any of the four matches so far, probably also the conditions and the loss of only wickets. How exciting is it that despite this, you’re heading into the Super 8 with a string of big scores as a team?
(Shivam Dubey 🙂
Sir we know what we are scoring is one of the best. Like today on that wicket we scored 190 plus and on that wicket it was not easy to score not from us but from any team playing not to give so many runs so what our team is giving is the best score on that wicket I think.
(Reporter:)
To turn into a pure attacker, did you ever discuss certain things with me or was it pure practice and therefore especially in situations where it is difficult? Are you free to move on?
(Shivam Dubey 🙂
Definitely sir. I have worked really hard but there is something called support which Surya and Gautam give. So they gave me a free hand. You go because they trust me a lot, so in that situation I have to go back.
(Reporter:)
4 out of 4 in group A done. When you look at the Super 8, how confident are you, how confident is the team? And another 4 wins and you will be in the same place in the final.
(Shivam Dubey 🙂
So the team is in good shape. I don’t want to say that we are very confident because as a team we are thinking about the next game. We are not thinking about qualifying and then playing the semi-finals or the final. As a team, everyone is very confident and supportive of themselves and it’s just about being ready for 22nd, playing well, giving 100% on the day.
(Reporter:)
How special is this fifty – because it’s your first T20 World Cup fifty. And also the partnership with Hardik if you can talk about that. There was a time when you probably competed with Hardik and now you are both there. So how do you talk to him? What kind of support do you have in the dressing room? Because you are both versatile.
(Shivam Dubey 🙂
Sir, there is no competition. But it’s fun when we both play together. Because I feel like we’re both lefties and righties and power hitters. So the team in front of us is always a bit on our toes. If we were both right, then there would be a plan. But if the left and right sides fire, it is difficult for the other team. So we both enjoy it a lot. We talk a lot, yes, that’s the plan, we’re going like this. But we enjoy the much more important thing
I feel very good in the top 50 in the World Cup, so it’s a really good feeling.
(Reporter:)
(inaudible) and you did it. So how did you feel? And do you think field work is a bit of what you need?
(Shivam Dubey 🙂
My field?
(Reporter:)
No, no, fielders.
(Shivam Dubey 🙂
It happens, ma’am. We dropped some catches today, but it’s only for a day. I think our team is one of the best players in the field. I can feel it. And we made many like many great catches in the tournament and yes, we will do better in the next game and yes, I had a lot of fun when people asked me to hit a six or a four, so I enjoy it, but I am very calm at that time. I just focus on the ball.