Shivam Dube Discusses Team’s Batting Challenges During World Cup
India’s all-rounder, Shivam Dube, has openly talked about the difficulties the team has faced with its batting line-up in the ongoing World Cup. He mentioned that the pressure of the tournament has led players to take a more cautious approach, rather than the aggressive style they displayed in recent bilateral series.
After India’s 17-run win against the Netherlands, Dube spoke at a post-match press conference. He recognized that high-stakes matches often change how the team plays, especially when they lose early wickets.
One player under scrutiny is Abhishek Sharma, who has yet to score a run in three World Cup games. Dube explained that such challenges force middle-order batsmen, like Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma, to adjust their game accordingly.
“This is the World Cup, and the game is tougher here,” Dube said. “If we don’t get the start we want, Tilak and Surya will adapt to the situation. If the game calls for it, they know how to bat.”
He emphasized that T20 cricket is more than just hitting big shots. It involves managing pressure and knowing when to take singles, even if it means facing dot balls for a while.
“When you face dot balls in T20, it can add pressure,” Dube explained. “But as a batsman, I know that if I’m at two runs after ten balls, I can still change the game by hitting a couple of sixes.”
Concerns Over Off-Spin
Dube was also asked about India’s struggle against off-spin bowling. Earlier in the tournament, players like Namibia’s Gerhard Erasmus and Pakistan’s Usman Tariq had put pressure on India’s batting. In the recent match against the Netherlands, Aryan Dutt managed to dismiss both Abhishek and Ishan Kishan.
However, Dube dismissed any major concerns about off-spin. “There’s nothing to worry about. Sometimes batsmen just can’t hit certain balls, but once they find their rhythm, this issue will fade away,” he stated confidently.
When questioned about the team’s inability to achieve scores over 200, which they did frequently before the tournament, Dube defended the team’s strategy. He believes they are aware of what constitutes a competitive score, depending on the pitch conditions.
“We understand what scores are achievable on different wickets,” Dube asserted. “Today, we managed to score over 190, which was not easy for any team on this pitch. I think what we scored is quite strong for the conditions.”
As India now looks forward to the Super 8 stage, they aim to maintain their winning momentum and aspire to be the first team to defend the T20 World Cup title successfully.
