Shivam Dube’s selection in India’s T20 World Cup squad over players like Rinku Singh has been a talking point throughout the tournament. Unfortunately, his performances haven’t done much to silence the critics. Inconsistent with the bat, Dube’s struggles culminated in a golden duck during India’s crucial semi-final clash against England.
Rohit’s decision to play Dube backfired?
Dube’s scores in the World Cup so far paint a picture of utmost inconsistency – 0, 28, 34, 10, 31*, 3, now including a golden duck. While he did manage a vital cameo against Bangladesh, his overall performance has fallen short of expectations, especially considering the responsibility that comes with playing in the middle-order. In the seven appearances, Dube has mustered just 106 runs at a mediocre average of 21.2 and at a poor strike rate of 106. Put in the team as a middle-overs basher, the Mumbai-born has definitely left a lot to be desired.
A duck for Dube!
The pressure seemed to get the better of Dube in the high-stakes semi-final. Facing Chris Jordan, a delivery angling away from the left-hander, Dube could only manage an edge. It was pouched comfortably by England’s wicket-keeper Jos Buttler. This dismissal leaves Rohit Sharma’s decision to pick Dube over other in-form contenders under further scrutiny. The dismissal exposed his vulnerability against pace bowling.
