Xtra Time Web Desk: AB de Villiers speaks on formers Royal Challengers Bengaluru teammate, Shivam Dube never quite felt easy when was with RCB. De Villiers feel, it was after he shifted to the Chennai Super Kings that the tall all-rounder realised his true potential.
Dube started his IPL career in 2019 with RCB. He played two seasons for the Virat Kohli-led side and in 15 matches he just managed 169 runs at a strike rate of 122.
He was released by RCB and before IPL 2021, Dube found Rajasthan Royals as his new home. But success still didn’t come to the power-hitting left-hander. Although he had a better season than earlier, scoring 230 runs in 9 matches but then again, the strike rate of 119 was a problem. Even his bowling was never threatening enough. As a result, Dube was released again.
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The left-hander’s problems against the short-pitched deliveries were no more a secret now. Which made him lost his place in the Indian national side too. When things were going downhill, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s CSK picked him up in the 2022 mega auction. And things took a 180 degree for Dube. He scored 289 runs at a strike rate of 156.
De Villiers said, “It’s fantastic to see Shivam like this. He never really broke free in the RCB changing room. He was quite a shy guy, worked really hard, and asked a lot of questions back in the day. I think he did a bit of learning there but never felt comfortable. He talks about being free in CSK, and that is the magic recipe that MSD, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Stephen Fleming, and all the guys from the past have set up over there. It’s a workhorse of a franchise that just makes it work every time, every single season, with new players who feel free to express themselves”.
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Dube, became the player of the match in the 1st T20I of 3 match series against Afghanistan. He also became the man of the series following India’s comprehensive 3-0 triumph over Afghanistan earlier this year.