Shivam Dube trusts that MS Dhoni is the most qualified to decide if he should be given a chance to bowl in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In IPL 2023, Dube excelled as a Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batsman.
He scored 418 runs in 14 innings at a remarkable strike rate of 158.33. Despite being an all-rounder, he was solely deployed as a specialist batter and didn’t have a chance to bowl during the entire tournament.
While appearing on the AakashVani show on JioCinema, Shivam Dube was questioned about whether the Impact Player rule prevented him from bowling in the IPL and if he had ever approached Dhoni to let him bowl. In response, he said:
“If I talk about the CSK team, the sixth option itself was Moeen Ali. I come as the seventh option, so it’s only if it’s very much required. That is one thing because of the Impact Player rule. I am trying to make myself better so that I can contribute one or two overs for the team.”
The Mumbai player added:
“If I tell him (Dhoni), I feel it will be a huge insult to him. He knows when to bowl me. He just asks you to keep playing and not to take tension. When I started bowling, he said that my bowling had improved from last year.”
Dhoni conveyed to Dube that his bowling opportunities were determined by the match context and the team’s needs. Dube mentioned that the CSK captain consistently encourages him, saying that his performance will improve gradually over time.
“My thinking is always that I have to play for the Indian team” – Shivam Dube sharing his aspirations
Aakash Chopra inquired about Shivam Dube’s aspirations, and he responded:
“My thinking is always that I have to play for the Indian team and do something for the country. It is always in my mind that if I am good I can win the World Cup for my country.”
The 30-year-old mentioned that he is striving to reclaim his spot in a completely fit Indian team. He expressed:
“However, I need to do a lot of things for that. So my focus is on those things. The goal at the back of my mind is that I have to play for India. It is 100% a goal and I feel the direction in which I am going, it is getting closer.”
Dube featured in both T20Is during India’s recent visit to Ireland. He is also part of the Indian squad for the upcoming Asian Games, aiming to deliver influential performances to secure a spot in the Men in Blue’s lineup for the T20 World Cup next year.
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