You have Hardik, but you need to have one more all-rounder in the Indian team: Shivam Dube

There is no doubt that India has a dearth of seam all-rounders as, except Hardik Pandya, Men in Blue have failed to find any player to do the job. 2019 saw the emergence of Shivam Dube and many were of the opinion that India’s search for another seam all-rounder will end on Dube. However, after the initial sparks, the all-rounder has failed to live up to his reputation.

Dube made his debut in IPL 2019 for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The 27-year-old played two seasons for RCB and featured in 15 games. However, he delivered an under-par performance as in 15 matches, he could score just 168 runs at an average of 16.90 and at a strike rate of 122.46. The same resulted in RCB releasing Shivam before IPL 2021 and the all-rounder getting picked by Rajasthan Royals.

Speaking about his stint with RCB, Shivam Dube reckoned that he was satisfied with his performance as he delivered both with the ball and willow. The Mumbai-born also asserted that he would have liked batting up the order but it was a call that the captain and team management had to make.

“Definitely I would have liked to have batted higher up the order at No.4 or No.5 for RCB. But it is something that the captain and management decide according to what is better for the team.

“I didn’t have a bad season (IPL 2020) since it was not easy to consistently hit 2-3 sixes at the death and I was also bowling in the middle-overs. Releasing me was the choice of the franchise and I am okay with whatever they decided. I have the satisfaction that whenever I was called upon to bowl or bat, I did well for RCB,” Dube said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

I definitely feel I will be a part of the future Indian team: Shivam Dube

Further in the interaction, Dube opined that the Indian team needs one more all-rounder apart from Hardik Pandya as the seam all-rounders have the ability to change the course of the game. Also, he feels that he will definitely play for India in the near future and is thus focusing on his game and skill set. Shivam made his debut for India in 2019 and has featured in 13 T20 Internationals and one One Day International.

“You have Hardik Pandya, but you need to have one more all-rounder in the Indian team because getting a seaming all-rounder is always a difficult job. My job is to keep on performing and knocking on the door of the selectors. You see other countries playing 2-3 all-rounders because they always change the course of the game. I definitely feel I will be a part of the future Indian team. Playing more all-rounders will increase India’s chances of winning.”