Indian veteran Gautam Gambhir recently opined that CSK all-rounder Shivam Dube should be in the Indian squad for the upcoming Asia Cup. Gambhir stated that India needs a backup all-rounder for Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur cannot play that role. Meanwhile, the former Indian selector Sunil Joshi is not agreeing with Gambhir’s suggestion stating that Dube has been struggling with the bat and on the field as well.
Shardul Thakur can’t be the back-up for Hardik: Gautam Gambhir
“One name they select should have definitely considered is Shivam Dube because of the kind of form he is in. You need a backup for Hardik Pandya. Shardul Thakur can’t be that. Shardul Thakur cannot be Hardik’s backup,” Gambhir said on Star Sports. At present, Dube is with the Indian squad taking on Ireland.
The tall Mumbai all-rounder did not get to bat in the series opener and bowled only one over. However, the Southpaw performed decently during the second game. He scored 22 runs off 16 deliveries which included two maximums. With the ball, he bowled two decent overs. Dube is expected to be a part of the playing XI during the final match of the series on August 23 (Wednesday).
Former India chairman of selectors, Sunil Joshi, however, disagreed with Gambhir. Joshi felt that Dube needs to improve a lot in the bowling and in fielding as well before being adjudged as full-fledged all-rounder.
“No, I don’t think so. We have seen Shivam Dube. He would’ve been scoring in T20s but this is entirely format and a different tournament. With due respect to Gautam, this is my view. Shivam Dube has struggled with the ball and also in the field,” he said.
Earlier, Gambhir also said that India could have gone in with an extra spinner as their bowling appears to be one-dimensional.
“It’s a decent squad, according to me a nice squad is picked, but somewhere a wrist spinner is needed. It’s a seam-heavy squad and I believe either Ravi Bishnoi or Yuzvendra Chahal should have been picked because of conditions, when you are playing in India it’s important to keep two wrist spinners in the squad.
Somewhere it’s a one-dimensional attack, two left-arm spinners, one wrist spinner and other pacers, it’s a seam-heavy attack (four-seamers). I think it’s a place where they could do better if they have selected one out of either leg-spinner. I believe you could give a break to Mohammad Shami and the form in which Prasidh Krishna is, you could pick a wrist spinner,” he added.
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