The young Indian duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube are set to be rewarded for their exemplary performances. While Jaiswal is gradually becoming an all-format player for the Indian team, Dube has done enough in the shortest format to become a central figure in the Indian T20I team. The duo's names weren't part of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'s list when the central contracts were drawn in March last year, but they are closer to getting a spot this time around, as per a report.
According to the Times of India, Jaiswal and Dube have impressed the Indian team management enough to earn their spots in the central contracts.
While Jaiswal is becoming a reliable opening batter across formats for the Indian team, Dube is being seen as the perfect backup to the injury-prone Hardik Pandya.
But, the selectors want Dube to bowl more and polish his secondary skills as he continues to impress with his power-hitting in the middle-order.
"The selectors and the team management want him to bowl more and more, as that adds immense value to Dube as a player. This is why he is bowling a fair bit during this series. If he can chip in with a few overs with the ball, he can cement his place in the side for the T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA. This is crucial because he is the ideal backup to the injury-prone Hardik Pandya," a reliable source in the BCCI told TOI.
Jaiswal made his Test debut against the West Indies in July last year. Since then, he has scored 316 runs at an average of 45.14, with one hundred and one fifty. When it comes to the shortest, format, Jaiswal has played 16 T20Is, scoring 498 runs at a strike rate of 163.81, and an average of 35.57.
Dube, on the other hand, who returned into India's T20I side after almost three years, has played 20 T20Is in which he has scored 275 runs at 45.83. He also has 8 wickets to his name.