Virat Kohli After the Big-hitting all-rounder Shivam Dube, who is used to batting on belters in India, said that he was so confused by the T20 World Cup matches on New York’s two-paced tracks. It felt like he was playing a Ranji Trophy match.
With a 35-ball 31 in Wednesday’s seven-wicket victory over a spirited USA squad, the Chennai Super Kings player showed signs of recovery and helped India advance to the Super Eight round. The World Cup would relocate to the West Indies with the Super Eight games.
Dube explained his subsequent collapses against Pakistan and Ireland at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium: “I was struggling with my form and focusing on my process.”
However, no pressure was present here. I had the backing and encouragement of all the coaches and support personnel, who advised me to keep going even when it was tough because I could hit sixes.
“I’ve never had self-doubt about the things I’ve done in the past. I don’t believe what I’ve done at CSK is required under these conditions. I was batting differently today because these conditions call for a different strategy,” he continued.
Before Dube can justify his selection over Rinku Singh, another power hitter in the reserves, there is still a long way to go.
Even though Dube was selected for India’s primary World Cup team, he only scored 36 runs in five IPL innings. Before he was able to play with composure on Wednesday, he scored 14 in a practice match against Bangladesh, 0 not out, and 3 in his previous three appearances during the World Cup.
India was reduced to 44/3 on the challenging drop-in Nassau pitch, chasing a meek 111. It took Dube six deliveries to open his account because he battled to time the ball and found it difficult.
In the fifteenth over, Dube eventually struck with an 87-meter six off Corey Anderson after being nine off fifteen balls.
“It was similar to playing Ranji Trophy.” Dube said about his wait for a six, “I don’t think in white balls.”
Here, the circumstances determine how you wish to play. To hit a six, you must select your finest shot. I was waiting for the chance today.
“It’s not easy to come here and start hitting from ball one; you must take your time,” he said.
While batting on these tracks may not have been his favorite activity, he has enjoyed bowling.
I miss six hits when I bat at CSK and in India; these conditions make it challenging to bat here and in the nets. “I would have bowled more, but I got hit for a six and didn’t get the chance, but it’s better to bowl here,” he remarked.
“I won’t delete this from my memory because this is my first World Cup,” he responded when asked whether he would like to “delete” the painful recollections of his struggle at this location.
It’s only fitting that it’s hard, whether you’re batting first or chasing. However, we worked well together and finished early, so I would say that chasing was a little easier because we prevailed today,” he remarked.
“The ball is doing many things—it’s skidding, staying low, staying sideways, and some of them are coming off the pitch quickly. It’s challenging to judge, then. I believe you have never seen something like this during a T20 World Cup.”
Dube further attributed his problems to the games being held in an improvised stadium without adequate seating for fans.
It can be challenging because of the background. It’s also a little difficult to judge the ball because of the abundance of light,” he remarked.
Virat Kohli was selected to open the mega-event and was out for a golden duck, prolonging his miserable streak. In the first three matches against Pakistan, Ireland, and the United States, he scored 1, 4, and 0.
When asked about Kohli’s poor performance, Dube responded, “I’m not Virat Kohli, so there’s nothing I can say about him.”
“Due to his poor form, he could leave the game on the cheap twice, but he will return to score hundreds of runs in the next three games. We are all familiar with his style of play,” remarked Dube.
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