Former Indian batting coach Abhishek Nayar showered praise on Shivam Dube after India registered a 48-run win against Australia in the fourth T20I at Gold Coast on Thursday. Nayar said Dube is doing a fine job while filling in the shoes of injured Hardik Pandya.

Dube returned with figures of 2-20 in the two overs he bowled. The medium pacer accounted for the Australian captain, Mitchell Marsh, and hard-hitter Tim David to play a key role in skittling out the hosts at 119.

Furthermore, Dube scored 22 runs after he was promoted to number three by the team management.

Abhishek Nayar said on JioHotstar, “We always say that Hardik Pandya is the kind of all-rounder that India requires. But game after game, Shivam Dube has shown that he can be that all-rounder as well. You don’t really feel the absence of Hardik Pandya because Shivam bowls important overs, takes key wickets, and contributes with the bat in different situations.”

Nayar said Dube does everything that an Indian all-rounder needs to do for the team’s success.

“Today again, he scored crucial runs and took two big wickets when Australia were looking to accelerate. Whenever he has been challenged by this Indian team management, he has come up with flying colours. He may not be tagged as ‘the all-rounder’, but he does everything that an Indian all-rounder needs to do,” said Nayar (via the aforementioned source).

Dube has definitely improved his bowling, and he had also done a fine job in the Asia Cup. In the absence of Hardik Pandya, Dube had opened the innings with Jasprit Bumrah in the final clash against Pakistan.

The fifth and final T20I of the series between Australia and India will be played at the Gabba, Brisbane, on Saturday.