India all-rounder Shivam Dube said he is clear about his role heading into the ICC men’s T20 World Cup, underlining his readiness with a blistering half-century despite India’s 50-run defeat to New Zealand in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.
Batting at No. 6, Dube produced a stunning cameo, racing to a 15-ball fifty, the third-fastest by an Indian in men’s T20Is. Reflecting on his growing confidence and clarity, Dube said post-match that regular game time has helped him understand what is expected of him in high-pressure situations.
“I am getting better with my mindset because I am playing all these matches now,” Dube said. “I am batting in those situations, so all those things I know that now what’s going to happen, what are the main things, which bowler is going come to me, that’s the key point for my batting and bowling as well.
“I am trying to develop some more skills too. There is one thing when you work really hard behind the nets, but there is something that you have to apply in the match. There is something called experience, so that has come to me, and that is going in the right direction,” he added.
The 32-year-old finished with a rapid 65. Thirty-six of those runs came against spin, his strength, at a strike rate of 400, showcasing the power-hitting that has strengthened his case as a designated finisher.
“There are many things people upgrade. For me, it is very important. I can’t be the same as I was. I try to be a little better, a little smarter in the next game when I am playing. So, I learn that how to be a little smarter, what my strengths are, and where I can target those. It’s very important for the match-up. So, they want me to hit spinners. That is my role to get the strike rate high in middle-overs.
“That is what I always try. Not about the spinners but fast bowlers as well. But yeah, definitely there is something where I know that this is my strength. I can put pressure on the opponents in that phase. So, my mindset is very clear on that,” Dube said.
The Mumbai seam-bowling all-rounder was particularly severe on Ish Sodhi and even turned the heat on Mitchell Santner, hitting seven sixes in his knock. He smashed Sodhi for 29 runs in the 12th over.
“There was no game plan at that time. There were some instincts from my side. I thought that okay, it’s difficult to hit spinners. He was bowling well. But I knew that even he is a little scared. He is going to bowl me the bad ball. I was ready for that. So, I wanted to dominate at that time and that is what I did,” he revealed.