Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has warned that India need to address their sixth bowling option after Shivam Dube’s costly performance against Zimbabwe. Despite India’s commanding victory, Chopra felt Dube’s lack of ball control remained an issue ahead of their must-win Super 8 clash against the West Indies.
Indian batting took them to a massive total of 254 against Zimbabwe in Chennai, but the bowling performance was far from flawless. Zimbabwe, led by a strong knock of 97 runs from Brian Bennett, still managed to reach 184 for 6 after a slow start, exposing gaps that stronger teams could exploit.
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Taking to his YouTube channel, Chopra said that India cannot afford uncertainty about their sixth bowler, especially with the explosive West Indies batsmen waiting for them.
“Shivam Dube has conceded 113 runs in seven overs in the last three games. In this game he conceded 46 runs in two overs, 32 runs in two overs in the previous game and 35 runs in three overs in the previous game. The problem is that he needs to bowl as he is the sixth bowler,” said Chopra.
“Bowling Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma won’t work here. So Shivam Dube being so expensive as a sixth bowler is a problem. It means nobody can have a bad day because you want only five bowlers to be used. If you need a sixth, Shivam Dube has no confidence at the moment,” he added.
SHIVAM DUBE’S BIZARGE VS ZIMBABWE
The Indian frontline bowlers held firm, conceding just 66 runs in their 10 overs and claiming three wickets. But once support options came into the attack, Zimbabwe began to look for a way back.
Shivam Dube had a particularly tough outing as he finished with 46 runs from his two overs, including two no-balls and four wides to help Zimbabwe build late momentum. One moment perfectly captured a chaotic night for Dube.
In the 15th over, his plan to bowl outside off-stump to Brian Bennett quickly fell apart for three wides before an even more erratic delivery landed well outside the pitch and was called a no-ball.
They also took the spinners, who conceded 70 runs in eight overs as Zimbabwe shifted gears.
Despite the struggles, Dube made it to the final, even with Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya still to go. The result was already out of Zimbabwe’s reach, but the decision highlighted India’s continued reliance on Dube as their sixth bowling option.
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India now face a virtual knockout against the West Indies in their last Super 8 match. While their batting clicked at the right time, the bowling balance could prove to be decisive.
Against a power-packed West Indies line-up, even minor slip-ups can quickly change the momentum. If India can’t tighten up their sixth-bowling role, they risk putting too much pressure on their main attack.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
27 Feb 2026 11:34 IST
