Shivam Dube credits MS Dhoni for improving his ability to finish games, a crucial factor in India’s win against Afghanistan in the first T20I. He highlights ongoing learning from Dhoni, especially during their shared time at the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Dube earned the Player of the Match title by scoring an unbeaten 60 off 40 balls, contributing with 1/9 in two overs as India secured a six-wicket victory against Afghanistan in the first T20I in Mohali on Thursday, January 11. India successfully chased the target of 159 in 17.3 overs. After the match, the 30-year-old shared insights on Dhoni’s impact on his batting, specifically in the finishing role.
“It felt very good to get a good opportunity. I was keeping myself ready to not miss an opportunity. When I came to bat, I wanted to finish the match. I learned it from Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni), I wanted to finish the match well,” Dube told JioCinema as quoted as saying by India Today.
The 30-year-old mentioned that he regularly converses with the Indian legend and aims to continually improve in the finishing role through ongoing learning.
“I always keep talking to Mahi bhai. He is such a big legend. I always keep learning from him, by seeing him and observing him. He has told me a couple of things about my game. He always rates me, saying I play well. If he rates me, then that gives me motivation to keep playing well, because of which my confidence is very high,” Dube said.
Struggling with performance in different teams, the powerful left-hander thrived under Dhoni’s guidance for CSK in the 2023 IPL. He smashed 418 runs in 16 matches at a strike rate of 158.33, including three half-centuries.
“It’s very special” – Shivam Dube on his fifty
Dube achieved his second T20I fifty in the game against Afghanistan in Mohali on Thursday. Describing his innings, he expressed it as particularly special, seizing the opportunity that presented itself.
“It’s very special because I came into the Indian team after a long time and got an opportunity. It was very important especially because when you chase, a batter’s thinking in T20s is always to finish the game. I finished the game for the team, so felt really good,” the batter said in a video on bcci.tv.
Dube has played in 19 T20Is, accumulating 212 runs at an average of 35.33 and a strike rate of 139.47.
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