XtraTime Web Desk: This was just the fifth T20I for young Shivam Dube and the team management suddenly sent him at no.3 in during the second T20I against West Indies at Thiruvananthapuram. Skipper Kohli played a masterclass of 94 runs in the last game but still the team tried something new and it paid off too as Dube played a blistering knock of 54 runs in just 30 deliveries before getting out which helped the hosts to reach a fighting total of 170 runs. Dube too revealed that it was the management’s decision to send him up the order.
“It was the plan from the team (batting at 3), they backed me, there was some pressure on me, but happy that it came off well,”said Dube during the mid innings break.
On being asked how he managed to hit cleanly in the middle overs, Dube added,”
We knew the spinners would bowl and I would bat at that time. Power is the strength of mine, I just need to play the proper shots. It was difficult at the start, the ball wasn’t coming on, I decided to time the shots instead of going hard on the ball,” concluded Dube.