Virender Sehwag backs Shivam Dube for T20 World Cup, calls for form-based selection

The IPL's high-octane action has grippled fans for the last couple of weeks but what makes the tournament even more important this time around is the ICC T20 World Cup which will follow it immediately. As such, players are under pressure to not only perform for their franchises but also stake their claim for a place in their respective national sides.

A few players are doing extremely well to make a strong case for World Cup selection. One such player is Chennai Super KIngs' Shivam Dube who has already played a couple of impactful knocks this season. His phenomenal returns in last year's IPL led to a national comeback, and he carried that momentum into the recent series against Afghanistan with a couple of fiery batting displays. Continued good form could see him on the plane to the T20 World Cup.

"His ticket should be confirmed!"

Former cricketer Virender Sehwag threw his weight behind Shivam Dube's World Cup selection during a Cricbuzz discussion yesterday. Sehwag believes Dube's consistent performances are putting pressure on established middle-order batsmen like Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul. He advocated for the selectors to prioritize current form when finalizing the World Cup squad.

“I said before the match that the way Shivam Dube has been playing, his ticket should be confirmed for the T20 World Cup. He has put a lot of pressure on players like Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, and KL Rahul and now they have to score consistent runs to make the World Cup squad. Take the players who are in form,” the 45-year-old said.

Simon Doull, another former cricketer, chimed in on the conversation, endorsing Shivam Dube's suitability for the slow Caribbean wickets. Doull believes Dube's batting style is a good fit for these conditions, and if he can improve his bowling, he could become a crucial all-round option for the Indian team.

“I haven't been down to the Caribbeans in the last 3-4 years, but very rarely do you see a hard, fast, bouncy surface. They are slowish in nature, takes a little bit of turn. That's his game. And if he can continue to work on his bowling, he can turn out to be a genuine option,” said Doull.