It came as a huge surprise when Suryakumar Yadav announced that Shivam Dube would replace Washington Sundar. The move elongated the batting so much that Axar Patel batted at number eight. With these many batting options, you tend to compromise on your bowling. We know that Gautam Gambhir loves to have multi-faceted players in his XIs but it sometimes adds pressure to the bowling arsenal. But kudos to Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya; the power-hitting duo turned the game upside down in Pune against England.
Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya power India ahead
When India lost three wickets within the first two overs, it looked like even 150 would be a challenge. But thanks to a strong recovery, they managed to post a competitive total of over 180. Abhishek Sharma and Rinku Singh provided some stability after the early collapse, but the real game changers were Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya.
Dube played a responsible knock, soaking up the pressure and ensuring India didn’t crumble further. His 53 off 34 balls was a gritty effort, and his calculated attack on Adil Rashid showed why he was brought back into the side. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya’s 53 off just 30 deliveries proved to be the turning point. He took his time initially but then unleashed his aggressive side, taking the pacers to the cleaners. His partnership with Dube not only stabilized the innings but also shifted the momentum back in India’s favor.
England had their moments, especially with Saqib Mahmood’s impressive three-wicket burst, but they couldn’t capitalize on the early breakthroughs. Jamie Overton also bowled well, but the death overs belonged to India. Mahmood became the first bowler ever to have a triple-wicket maiden against India in T20Is. While Dube ended with 53 off 34, while Pandya also hammered 53 in 30 balls.
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