India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel has backed all-rounder Shivam Dube despite his expensive spells in the ongoing T20 World Cup Morkel insisted the left-hander can bowl a few useful overs for the side if needed.
Morkel said during India’s pre-match press conference in Mumbai on March 4 ahead of their T20 World Cup semi-final against England. Dube wrestles the ball it was more about execution than form.
“I don’t think it’s a loss of bowling form. Shivam knows the game pretty well. At times our execution wasn’t great and maybe the thinking behind some deliveries could have been better, but in terms of form, he’s a guy who can still give us a few overs,” Morkel said.
“For him, it’s about making smarter decisions with the ball. That’s an area we want to improve because, let’s be honest, teams are going to go after him and try to put him under pressure. If we can improve his execution and his thinking with the ball, it will help us a lot,” he added.
Dube has been used sparingly with the ball during the tournament but is still viewed by the Indian team management as a valuable part-time option capable of filling in during key phases of the innings.
SHIVAM DUBE BAD BOWLING FORM
Dube’s bowling returns in the T20 World Cup have been far from convincing. In seven matches, he bowled just 9.2 overs, conceding 124 runs, taking five wickets at an economy rate of 13.28.
His hardest climbs came during the Super 8 stage. The all-rounder collected 46 runs in just two matches against Zimbabwe and followed it up with another expensive spell of 32 runs from two overs in India’s Super 8 opener against South Africa.
The team management also decided not to use him with the ball in India’s must-win clash against the West Indies, reflecting concerns about his effectiveness under pressure.
Former Indian cricketers also joined the debate. Mohammed Kaif, among others, suggested that India should reconsider using Dube as a bowling option given how aggressively the opposition batsmen have targeted him.
Despite his problems with the ball, Dube made significant contributions with the bat for India in the tournament. The left-hander has scored 166 runs in seven matches at an average of 33.20 and an impressive strike rate of 156.60, often providing quick momentum in the middle order.
With India taking on England in the high-scoring semi-final, the team management will be hoping that Dube’s all-round ability can offer a balance when required.
T20 World Cup | T20 World Cup Schedule | T20 World Cup Points Table | T20 World Cup Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– The end
Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
04 March 2026 15:40 IST
