
Though the hype around Shivam Dube’s entry into the India T20I team was about his aggressive batting, it was his bowling that hogged the limelight in the recently concluded series against Bangladesh. In the crucial third T20 game in Nagpur, Dube took 3 for 30 that included the wickets of their in-form batsmen Mohammad Naim and Mushfiqur Rahim.
The day after he returns to Mumbai, where he will be playing the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy league games, Dube spoke to The Indian Express on his experience and road ahead. Excerpts:
Was there any fear when you made your debut?
“I will call it as the pressure of playing for India. But the support staff made me relax and ensured that I don’t feel that pressure. I’m thankful to them. They backed me, Ravi (Shastri) came and said don’t take tension, just play your game. He told me that in a T20 game, sabko padti hai (everyone gets hit). When it’s your day, you will do well but the important thing is how to overcome when it’s not your day. They told me, ‘We are there for you.’”
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Are you happy with the way these three games went?
“I’m happy that we won the series, but I am not satisfied because I feel my performance could have been better. It’s a learning process, every game I have tried to do better from the last.
There was a big hype that you can hit big shots towards the end of the innings.
Everyone in the team knew about me, what I have done in the past, and it’s natural that they will expect the same from me. I feel it’s just a start and I will try to improve. As I said, it’s a process.
Can you tell us what was going in your mind when asked to bowl in the last T20 game?
There was dew, my main aim was to ensure I don’t give runs, but runs did leak initially. I backed myself and told myself that I will bowl to my strength. I was thinking if Mohammad Naim comes down the track, I will bowl a yorker. I had the intuition that he will charge. Once the game got over, everybody applauded and said I have the potential to be a good bowler, especially the way I used the yorker.
Did you know that you will be bowling all four overs?
(Before the series,) Rohit bhai had told me to be ready to bowl all four overs in one of the coming games. So mentally I was ready. Rohit bhai came and said, bindaas daal, kuchh soch mat (Don’t overthink, bowl freely), I’m there to back you. Just bowl to your strength.
What did Rohit Sharma tell you guys in the huddle during the game?
We had just taken a wicket and Rohit bhai was not happy with our body language. He told us to put more effort on the field and that we could change the game from here. He encouraged us.
You changed your pace nicely, especially in last two overs?
I had to vary my pace, otherwise the ball was coming nicely on to the bat. The pitch was a bit sticky and the dew made things worse. First over, I tried a slower one but my main focus was to bowl a length ball. In my last two overs, I bowled cross-seam so that I could grip the ball. I changed my plan, I started to bowl the yorker, slower one and varied my pace which helped me.
Now, that you have made your debut, how do you see road ahead?
The series has gone well, this time I did well with my bowling, and next I am hoping to do well with the bat.
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