Shivam Dube impressed with the bat as he guided India to a six-wicket win over Afghanistan in the first T20I encounter in Mohali on Thursday. Dube slammed a 40-ball-60 to hand India a winning start in their only T20I series ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024. However, former Indian cricket team all-rounder Suresh Raina was impressed with his bowling. After the match, Raina praised him for taking the crucial wicket of Ibrahim Zadran and said that MS Dhoni will surely use him as a proper bowler for Chennai Super Kings in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign.
“Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni) ne dekha hai inko. Chennai mein 3 overs pakka hain inka (Dhoni has seen him. 3 overs are guaranteed for him in Chennai),” Raina said.
Dube was quick to react to the praise and he had a small message for Dhoni.
“Mahi bhai sunn lo aap (listen to this),” Dube remarked.
View this post on Instagram
Dube’s fifty headlined India’s facile six-wicket win on Thursday, and the knock also earned him the player of the match award.
“When I came to bat, I wanted to implement what I have learnt from MS Dhoni about finishing games. I keep speaking to Mahi bhai. He tells me about how to tackle different situations. He has given me two-three tips and rated my batting.
“So, I feel if he rates my batting then I’ll keep playing well. My confidence went up because of that,” Dubey told ‘JIO Cinema’.
Dubey’s previous appearance for India was in last year’s Asian Games at Hangzhou.
The Mumbai player was part of the India squad for home T20I series against Australia but did not get a chance to play and was not selected for the away series against South Africa.
Dubey also found shades of Dhoni in the way Rohit Sharma captained the side, and allowed him the space to perform.
“Both allow me to bat higher in the order. There’s a lot of work to be done and I know they will back me and want me to do well. So, that makes me feel a lot more positive,” he added.
(With PTI inputs)
#quotMahi #Bhai #Sunn #Aapquot #Dube039s #IPL #Message #Dhoni #Viral
