Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that both Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya must be considered for India’s squad in the upcoming 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup.
Making the best of one’s chances, that is exactly what Shivam Dube has done upon getting the call-up for the Afghanistan T20I series. In the absence of all-rounder Hardik Pandya due to injury, it was Dube who got a shot to prove himself at the biggest stage. And prove himself, he did.
Dube, who has been warming the bench primarily since his comeback to the Indian side last year, got his chance to take to the field in the Afghanistan series. The lanky hard-hitting all-rounder took on the Afghan bowlers with veracity, registering back-to-back fifties in Mohali and Indore, while also scalping a few wickets on the side with the ball.
Dube did more than impress with the bat as the lanky all-rounder finished the Afghanistan series as India’s top scorer.
Upon witnessing the same, Aakash Chopra stated that Dube’s attacking prowess with the bat reminded him of the famed Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh.
“Shivam Dube’s power is talking loudly. I felt he was sent slightly early in the third match. You could have sent either Sanju Samson or Rinku Singh ahead of him because he is not a grafter, he is an attacker. He reminds me of Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh). So you need to keep him slightly down the order,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
Chopra also said that considerations should go into making sure that both Hardik and Dube should be there in the T20 World Cup squad.
“The way he hit sixes in the first two matches, the power was evident. Some people have even said to leave Hardik and pick Dube. I am saying keep both. Shivam Dube is a real contender based on these three matches. If he does well in the IPL, it will be the icing on the cake,” the former India opener added.
Shivam Dube will be in action for the Chennai Super Kings in the upcoming IPL season, and Hardik Pandya is also expected to make a comeback to the Mumbai Indians side before the tournament begins.
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