Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif has rated Shivam Dube as a batter and not as an all-rounder after India suffered a 76-run loss against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday. Dube returned with expensive figures of 1-32 in two overs he bowled against the Proteas, accounting for Dewald Brevis.

Kaif noted that Dube had set up a defensive field while bowling to David Miller and Dewald Brevis as he was not looking to take a wicket. The medium pacer placed the mid-off fielder to almost extra cover position but could not nail his plans against Brevis and Miller.

Mohammad Kaif said on his YouTube Channel, “With the field and his plan to bowl wide to Brevis, Dube showed that he wanted to be very defensive. Nobody bowls defensively in the 10th over. You looked to attack and try to take a wicket at that time. According to me, Dube is a batter; he is not an all-rounder.

“We don’t need an all-rounder who bowls at 120 kph. He might take an odd wicket but will always go for runs. He can even concede four sixes in an over against West Indies.”

On the other hand, Shivam Dube was the lone warrior with the bat as he scored 42 runs off 37 balls.

The former UP batter said India can not afford to carry six left-handers in the team and must bring in Sanju Samson.

He concluded, “There should be a balance in everything. We have gone overboard with lefties, where there are six left-handed batters in the top eight. Hardik is coming at No. 5 for the left-right combination. If you think it could be your winning formula, make a squad keeping that in mind. Bring in Sanju to get that left-right combination.”

India will next take on Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on Thursday.