The D-day is set for April 27 when the BCCI Selection Committee announces the squad for T20 World Cup 2024. And ahead of that, Shivam Dube has ensured he is there in the squad, as a batter if not as an all-rounder. His inclusion is crucial considering the struggles Hardik Pandya has endured in IPL 2024 — with the bat and the ball. But what will be Dube’s role in India Cricket Team? Dube has not bowled in IPL 2024 and that could be detrimental. However, the “all-rounder” is bowling at Chennai Super Kings nets regularly to be ready when he gets the ball in hand.
“Yes, CSK have not needed him so far to bowl. But he is ready. He is bowling regularly at CSK nets and there is no concern about his bowling abilities. It would have been great if he had bowled in tough phases but he has bowled in Ranji Trophy and that will help him,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport ahead of India’s squad selection.
Golden run
Shivam Dube has reinvented himself at Chennai Super Kings, scoring 418 runs in IPL 2023 and in IPL 2024, he has already amassed 31 runs at an astounding strike rate of 169.95. That should make him an easy selection, right? Not quite.
Despite Dube’s golden run, what holds the selectors back a little is the bowling. He is not a designated finisher and with Rinku Singh already there, India do not need another finisher. To make things worse for Shivam Dube the batter, Rishabh Pant is all set to return after a year of nursing his injuries.
That leaves the selectors with only one spot: the seam bowling allrounder’s. Hardik Pandya has had no competition as such for the position. But Dube is challenging that.
Bowler Shivam Dube: MIA
However, there is a problem. Hardik Pandya can be India’s third seamer who can bowl at 140 clicks. But BCCI has shot in its foot by introducing the Impact Player rule. That leaves no place for an all-rounder to grow, neither in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20) and nor in the IPL.
As a result, Shivam Dube has only bowled just 15 overs in white ball cricket in 2023-24. For Mumbai, he has bowled only 8 overs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the rest came for India in T20Is. But he hasn’t needed to bowl in either the Mushtaq Ali Trophy or IPL 2023-24.
He has bowled 67 overs in the Ranji Trophy with mixed success. The reason is the Impact Player rule. With the rule in place, CSK have only used him as a batter.
While BCCI is likely to scrap the rule in IPL 2025, for now, Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee has to be content with Dube’s bowling efforts at the nets.
