Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar believes Shivam Dube has moved far beyond being just a late-order striker and is now shaping up to be a complete T20I asset for India. Despite India’s loss to New Zealand in the Vizag T20I, Gavaskar feels Dube’s growth with both bat and ball is one of the biggest positives for the team ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Despite India’s 50 run loss to New Zealand in Vizagthe match showed how Dube’s role in the series changed depending on the match situation. He had to provide a late boost in Raipur, making a blistering 36 off 18 balls. However, Vizag demanded an entirely different response. India were struggling at 63 for four when Dube came on and were left without reliable support soon after when Rinku Singh was dismissed. Speaking to Star Sports after the match, Gavaskar highlighted how Dube handled the pressure.
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“I thought he took the opportunity really well. As you said, when you bat at six or seven, you’re probably going to get three or four overs with a strong Indian batting line-up. But this time India lost the first wickets and he had to come on early. He showed intent from the first ball – that first ball six was one of the longest you’ll see, right into the second row.”
Except for the finisher
Dube’s innings in Vizag marked a clear shift in his role. He started with a six off Mitchell Santner and continued to attack even as wickets fell at the other end. Dube, often described as someone who mainly thrives against spin, has shown that he can be just as damaging against pace. He reached his half-century in just 15 balls, third fastest by an Indian in T20Is.
“When you give a shot like that early, your confidence goes up. He knows that when he connects, the ball goes into the stands because he has such power, swing and timing. It ended up being the third-fastest fifty for India, which is remarkable – you’re talking about Yuvraj Singh, Abhishek Sharma and now Shivam Dube.”
A true all-rounder is emerging
Dube went on to hit 65 off 23 balls, hitting seven sixes and three boundaries to drag India from 82 for five to 145 for six. However, after conceding 215 in the previous match, India were bowled out for 165 in 18.4 overs, leaving them 50 runs behind. Dube’s run ended the last glimmer of hope.
While the defeat stung, Gavaskar emphasized the bigger picture.
“The fact that he can play a couple of power plays is what makes him such a valuable player. And because he’s coming on early, he won’t see himself as just a finisher anymore. He’ll believe he can build an innings and finish them, especially in pressure situations.”
Dube’s development as a bowler supports this view. After a difficult start to his international career, his bowling averages have steadily improved, dropping from 28.8 in 2024 to 17.91 in 2025 and 19.66 in 2026. He has taken 20 wickets in 36 matches over the last three years and even opened the bowling in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan in a three-run victory of 325.
In the ongoing series, he has taken three wickets in six overs in four matches. While Vizag ended in disappointment, Dube’s rise as a reliable all-rounder remains a significant boost for India as they continue their preparations for the T20 World Cup.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
January 29, 2026
