Does Shivam Dube deserve more chances in T20 World Cup? Assessing all-rounder's way forward

Ever since Shivam Dube joined Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), he has revamped his game. Batting in the middle order, mostly at number four, the southpaw has shown his big-hitting prowess, especially against spinners. He continued his scintillating form in the 2024 IPL, forcing Team India selectors to include him in the squad for the ongoing T20 World Cup.

But here's the catch. From the moment his dream came true, Dube was unable to get going in the yellow jersey and completely struggled to find runs. He even bagged a couple of golden ducks. The southpaw was picked over Rinku Singh in the marquee event, highlighting his ability to chip in with some overs.

Rinku, who had a sensational outing for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the last edition of IPL, has also been able to shine for India in T20Is. He has scored 356 runs in 11 innings, at an average of 89.0 and a strike rate of 176.24. However, the star finisher was overlooked for the multi-national event, sparking controversy among fans on social media.

It is noteworthy that CSK had not explored Dube's fast bowling prowess in IPL 2024 due to the impact player rule. Moreover, India has yet to utilize his all-round abilities in the ongoing tournament. Barring a crucial 31* against the United States, Dube has not done anything special so far when it comes to his batting. He has accumulated just 44 runs in four innings at an average of 22.00 and a strike rate of 83.01.

Also Read: Shivam Dube's struggle infuriate fans after disappointing outing and dropped catch against Pakistan

Does India need a change in their XI? Time to try Sanju Samson?

Shivam Dube’s struggle has fueled the outrage of fans, with even former cricketers questioning the 30-year-old's place in the XI. India has performed brilliantly and is unbeaten so far but there are still some concerns with the batting unit. 

Apart from Dube, veteran batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are also struggling to find runs. The Indian skipper scored a half-century in the first match but Kohli has yet to do anything remarkable in the tournament. Coming to the lower order, Ravindra Jadeja has also not made any significant contribution in the batting department. 

This clearly indicates that Team India needs some changes in their batting line-up. With Dube yet to prove his mettle on the big stage, India can take a risk on him. If the management is not willing to make many changes, the best option would be to replace Dube with Sanju Samson. The keeper-batter had a tremendous outing for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the IPL 2024. 

Samson has batted in various positions over the years, so the right-hander will not find it difficult to adapt. India’s second Super 8 match is against Bangladesh on Saturday (June 22) at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua. A win would boost their chances of semi-final qualification after their recent 47-run win over Afghanistan.

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