Former Indian cricketer and coach Abhishek Nayar has praised Shivam Dube for filling the shoes of Hardik Pandya in the ongoing T20I series against Australia. Pandya was ruled out after suffering a left quadriceps injury ahead of the 2025 Asia Cup final against Pakistan.
However, in his absence Dube did a great job as an all-rounder bowling crucial overs for the team and playing crucial cameos. His brilliant show drew praise from Abhishek Nayar who praised him for his flexibility in the team.
AUS vs IND 5th T20I Update
“We always say that Hardik Pandya is the kind of all-rounder that India requires. But match after match Shivam Dube has shown that he can be an all-rounder too. You don’t really feel Hardik Pandya’s absence as Shivam misses important turns, takes key wickets and contributes with the bat in different situations,” Nayar said on JioHotstar.
Nayar also mentioned that Dube has mastered every challenge thrown at him by the Indian team management.
“He scored crucial runs and took two big wickets as Australia struggled to pick up the pace. Whenever this Indian team management called on him, he came up with outstanding results. He may not be labeled as an ‘all-rounder’ but he does everything an Indian all-rounder needs to do,” he added.
Dube scored 22 (18) in the fourth T20I against Australia and later took the two crucial wickets of Mitchell Marsh and Tim David in back-to-back overs. He finished with figures of 2/20 in two overshelping the team defend 167. Earlier, Dube was also given the new ball during the Asia Cup final in Pandya’s absence and played an economical spell of 0/23 in three overs.
The southpaw also played a crucial innings of 33 (22) to help India clinch the title. Meanwhile, Dube will be keen to continue his good form in the crucial fifth T20I in Brisbane.
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Issued by:
Rishabh Beniwal
Published on:
November 8, 2025
