Shivam Dube, an all-rounder for Team India, said he didn’t approach batting in the fourth Twenty20 International against New Zealand in Visakhapatnam with a particular mindset. He clarified that he wanted to play every ball fairly, which is exactly what he did.
New Zealand secured a 50-run win over India in the fourth Twenty20 International of five at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday, January 28. Having already dropped the first three games of their five-match series, the Kiwis ensured they would not be swept away with the consolation win. Chasing 215-7 after being sent in to bat, they bundled the Men in Blue out for 165 in 18.4 overs.
India were in the doldrums with the bat in Visakhapatnam but Dube blazed away to a quick-fire 65 from 23 deliveries. His 50 off 15 balls is the third fastest by an Indian in Twenty20 Internationals. Speaking at the post-match presentation, the southpaw talked about his innings, insisting that nothing was predetermined. He stated:
“I was focusing on every ball and trying to play it on merit. I was not thinking about getting 50 in 15 balls or whatever.”
The 32-year-old acknowledged that playing regularly for Team India in recent years has also made him sharper and more mature. Dube claimed:
“I am getting better with my mindset because I am playing all those matches now. I know how bowlers are going to come at me. In bowling, thanks to Gauti bhai and Surya, they have given me the opportunity. When you bowl, you become little smart. I am trying to develop some more skills.
“Teams upgrade themselves. For me also, it is very important. I can’t be the same that I was. I try to be little better and smarter in the next game,” he went on to add.
In his innings, Dube hit seven sixes and three fours before being unluckily removed. After Harshit Rana slammed one straight back and Matt Henry, the bowler, put a hand to the ball before it reached the stumps, he was run out at the non-striker’s end.
“There was no game plan at that time” – Shivam Dube on his assault on Ish Sodhi
Dube in particular took Kiwi leg spinner Ish Sodhi to the cleaners during his brilliant innings in the fourth Twenty20 International blasting him for three sixes and two fours in the 12th over. The left-hander talks about his strategy against the spinner as follows:
“There was no game plan at that time. There was some instinct from my side. I thought it was difficult to hit spinners. He was bowling well. But, I knew that even he is little scared. He is going bowl me a bad ball. I was ready for that. I wanted to dominate at that time and that is what I did.”
On Saturday, January 31, the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram will host the fifth and final Twenty20 International of the five-match series.
