There are times in cricket when opportunity does not come gently. It comes with pressure, anticipation and a spotlight that feels hotter than usual. For Shivam Dube, that moment came during the Asia Cup final when Hardik Pandya was dismissed and India suddenly found themselves without their most valuable seam all-rounder. The team management had a choice – and did what few would have predicted. They handed the new ball to Dube in the power play against Pakistan, in the title game no less.
It seemed brave. It seemed risky. And then it started to look inspired.
Dube was calm. He hit the seam consistently, kept the ball away from the right-handers, changed pace smartly and resisted the temptation to drag. At 130km/h, it wasn’t intimidating in pace, but it was intelligent in its execution. Two power plays, just 12 runs and a power play that looked measured rather than improvised. It was a reminder that cricketing values are not always about explosiveness. Sometimes it’s about control.
His spell in Australia’s T20I series only reinforced that impression. In the fourth match at Gold Coast, the run rate increased but it was the wickets he claimed that shifted the momentum of the match. Mitchell Marsh, well-set and dangerous, and Tim David, a finisher who can change innings within minutes, both fell to Dube. These are the wickets the selectors remember. These are goals that build confidence.
A CAREER BUILT QUIETLY, NOT SUDDENLY
Shivam Dube is not a new face that suddenly appeared out of nowhere. He has played 46 T20Is for India, been through selection cycles, public scrutiny, IPL successes and struggles. He went through the rhythm of proving, editing and proving again. He was also part of every match in India’s triumphant T20 World Cup 2024 campaign in the West Indies and the USA – proof that the previous management already believed he had a role to play on the biggest stage.
For a long time, he was seen primarily as a batsman who could spin, especially in the middle overs. He was supposed to be powerful but limited. We are now seeing growth that took time, experience and patience. It wasn’t loud or dramatic. It was stable.
The discussion around Dube matters because India has felt the cost of imbalance before. Hardik Pandya’s presence in the XI doesn’t just add skill – it unlocks structure. It allows for depth. It allows for flexibility. In its absence, the entire shape of the party will shift. The ODI World Cup 2023 was a clear example. A single injury midway through the tournament left India without an all-rounder of similar profile. The team had to adapt. They adapted admirably, but it was still a compromise.
Ravindra Jadeja offered control and finishing ability but the seam option was lacking. It was a reminder that at this level, balance isn’t a luxury – it’s a requirement.
WHY DUBE MATTER NOW
The aim is not to frame Dube as a replacement for Hardik Pandya. The aim is to recognize it as an option that allows India to avoid dependence on a single individual. This is important in tournaments. This matters across formats. This is important during times of the year when the workload increases.
With the bat, Dube remains one of India’s strongest run-scorers. He is capable of clearing even deep boundaries on slow or spin pitches. Recent performances have shown better decision-making against pace and the ability to build rather than just explode. He can also take down fast bowlers after setting up.
Future candidates are emerging. Nitish Kumar Reddy is one of them and brings exciting potential. But he’s young, still learning and has his own injury concerns. Handing him the responsibility of keeping India balanced in the World Cup would be premature.
In contrast, Dube is now ready. He has experience. He has grown in his game. And he’s shown he can contribute in both departments when the pressure is real and the lights are bright.
While Gautam Gambhir and the current management refine India’s direction, the message of recent years is clear: teams that rely on individual balance live dangerously. Teams that build depth around this role gain stability. Dube offers that stability – not as a replacement for Pandya, but as insurance, reinforcement and value.
Shivam Dube doesn’t have to be Hardik Pandya.
Must be Shivam Dube only.
And this may be just what India needs right now.
– The end
Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
November 9, 2025
