IND vs WI | Not here to replace Hardik Pandya, claims Shivam Dube
Shivam Dube has insisted that he getting a place in the T20Is is not an opportunity to replace Hardik Pandya but he has to make the most of the chances given. Pandya is recovering from a back injury that required surgery and Dube was his like-for-like replacement in the Indian team.
Young all-rounder Shivam Dube first came into limelight in the last season as he sizzled for the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team and also in the Mumbai T20 league, hitting Pravin Tambe for five sixes in an over. He was snapped up by Royal Challengers Banglore but he failed to deliver on the promise and was dropped from the squad.
However, he had a fantastic India A tour of West Indies and that coupled with the injury to Hardik Pandya and that helped him make his T20I debut for India against Bangladesh.
"I don't think it's an opportunity to replace Hardik but I think I have got a chance and I will try to do well for my country. I have got a job for my country and I will try to do that better," Dube told TOI.
In the three matches that Dube played against Bangladesh, he did not manage to impress barring that one spell where he got three quick wickets to win the game for India. But he believes that he is not under pressure as the team management is backing him to do well and believe in his big-hitting ability.
"Everyone is supporting me. The support from the captain and the team management was really good for me. They gave me a lot of confidence. So, I feel really happy and relaxed in the dressing room," he revealed.
Dube is considered more as a batsman who can bowl a bit because of his six-hitting ability with the bat. But he himself has a lot of confidence in his bowling and believes that it is imperative for him to stay fit as an all-rounder to contribute to the team with both bat and ball.
"It's always difficult being an all-rounder. Most important for me is to maintain my fitness levels because as an all-rounder, you need both bat and bowl. So, maintaining fitness is really a difficult job," Dube stated.
"I am very confident about my bowling. In T20 games, every bowler gets a bad as well as a good game. So, I try to prepare myself in very good situations and I feel that I can be a proper bowler who can bowl four overs. I have done that job," he added.
After having a confident end to the series against Bangladesh where he contributed with the ball in the series decider, Dube is confident about India's chances against the West Indies and he will be looking to showcase his skills against them.
"They (West Indies) have got a good T20 side but we have prepared very nicely. I think India is the best team in world cricket and we will win the series," he concluded.
