Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra hailed Shivam Dube after India secured a 15-run win in the fourth T20I against England at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Friday. Dube, who replaced Washington Sundar in the final XI, scored a match-winning knock of 53 runs off just 34 balls with the help of seven fours and two sixes.
The left-hander took the attack against England’s wily spinner Adil Rashid in the middle overs and played a key role in helping India post 181 runs on the board. The southpaw completed his fourth fifty off just 31 balls as he batted at the top of his game.
Dube also had the rub of the green on his side as he was dropped by England captain Jos Buttler on the first ball he faced against Adil Rashid. Chopra recalled that Dube also scored runs in the World Cup final against South Africa.
“Shivam Dube survived on the first ball. A catch was dropped, it was difficult but it was dropped. After that, the way he batted, and comebacks are difficult. We have been repeatedly saying that everyone had forgotten him, that there was a player named Shivam Dube who was part of the champion team and scored runs in the (2024 T20 World Cup) final,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“No one was asking about him. He recently got out for zero in both innings for Mumbai, and people were making fun as to why he was selected. It’s a different format and he has come after doing well in T20s. He batted and scored a half-century. That was absolutely brilliant,” Chopra added.
On the other hand, the renowned commentator also hailed Hardik Pandya, who also scored 53 runs. Pandya and Dube added 87 runs off just 44 balls after India were reeling at 79-5.
“Hardik Pandya, how well he batted. Puneri power, Pandya power, it was absolutely sensational. He hit a no-look shot and then a helicopter shot. The kind of control that he is showing, there is a bit of arrogance as well. It’s a happy arrogance, which you can misunderstand at times,” he said.
Chopra hailed Pandya for showing confidence in his batting and scoring at almost two runs per ball (strike rate 176.67).
“There is that quiet confidence which is not so quiet also. It’s in your face but it’s also quiet because he is not talking. He scored his runs at a strike rate of close to 200 and went beyond 50,” Chopra observed.
The fifth and final T20I of the series will be played at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Sunday.
