Former India opener Aakash Chopra praised Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batsman Shivam Dube and said the left-handed batsman should be in the Indian squad for the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup after his match-winning performance against Gujarat Titans (GT) in the match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 on Tuesday. The Chepauk fortress remained untouched as CSK registered a comprehensive 63-run win over GT in the ongoing IPL 2024 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Dube was named Player of the Match for his knock of 51 runs off 23 balls with the help of five sixes and two fours at a strike rate of 221.74.
The Delhi-born cricketer claimed that the number Dube bats at (No. 5 or No. 6) is not an Indian batsman who hits sixes better than him.
“Though I also have to talk about Ruturaj Gaikwad because he batted well and maturely after getting a life, I will go with Shivam Dube. How well is he playing? The number Shivam Dube bats at, around No. 5 or No. 6, is Is there an Indian who hits sixes better than him?” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
Chopra further stated that no one has the power that the southpaw possesses. The southpaw can hit sixes against the stands while standing at the crease.
“He hits sixes into the stands while standing in his position. No one has that kind of power and no one hits it consistently. He used to have a problem with short balls, but that’s no longer there. I don’t see anything missing from this point in the time. Keep him in the T20 World Cup team,” the former cricketer added.
Ultimately, the commentator said that the pitches in Florida, New York and the West Indies are slow and the grounds are large, so the Men in Blue need a powerful batsman like Dube in their side.
“Whether it’s the grounds in Florida, New York or the Caribbean, the pitches are slow and the grounds are big. So you need a power hitter there, and he is indeed that. So he will be in my plan in the future.” World Cup,” the 46-year-old concluded.
The 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in USA and West Indies starts on June 1. India will be in action on June 5 when they take on Ireland before attention shifts to the exciting match against Pakistan on June 9, both of which will be played at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York.
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