"He Is Murdering Spinners": Irfan Pathan's Out-Of-This-World Praise For CSK Star, Wants Him For T20 WC
Shivam Dube has emerged as arguably the finest hitter against spinners in the IPL 2024.
The race for T20 World Cup 2024 is getting intense, with many 'contenders' putting in a strong shift in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign. One of those players who is vying for the tight middle-order battle is Chennai Super Kings' Shivam Dube. Though CSK lost their last match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, it was Shivam Dube's blitzkrieg that left everyone in awe. The left-hand hit 24-ball 45, including 4 sixes and 2 fours, to help CSK reach 165/5 at the end of 20 overs. For former cricketers like Irfan Pathan, Dube has emerged as a strong contender for the middle-order spots in India's T20 World Cup squad.
In a chat on Star Sports, Irfan said that Dube would be in the Indian team if he was the selector. Highlighting the left-handed batter's hitting ability against spinners, Irfan said that there's no one who comes close to Dube in that specific area of the game.
"I would definitely select, if I would have been the selector, I will be keeping a close eye on him. And I would actually take him in T20 World Cup squad because he's actually murdering the spinners. He doesn't need to go out there and try to get set against spinners. And we have seen this in this IPL and previous season as well, we have seen him against quality wrist spinners, against finger spinners. And when you have a batter like that, why you don't want to take advantage of him?," he said.
Right now Shivam Dube is way ahead of any one in Indian cricket as far as spin hitting ability is concern! Indian selectors should keep a close eye on him for the World Cup.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) April 5, 2024
Irfan also pointed out that just because Dube is exceptional against spinners, doesn't mean he is bad against pacers.
"Mind you, he's not a bad batter against fast bowlers as well. People forget that he comes from Mumbai. And in Mumbai, you'll see a lot of bounce as well. So he's not as bad as well. Rightly, you know, when Yuvraj Singh said what he said, I'll definitely think he should be there. Because, who are the cricketers out there who can actually play in the middle overs, who can finish the game, who can actually literally finish the spinners? We have Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh. Who else is there, Rishabh Pandey if he is fit enough to play. But Rishabh, if you bowl him outside the off-stump, unless he uses the switch hit, there we have seen some restriction in his play. So, who else is there? Shivam Dubey, I don't think so any other guy who comes even close when it comes to hitting and actually finishing and murdering the spinners," he asserted.
Even former India cricketer Virender Sehwag was in awe of Dube's hitting. In a chat on Cricbuzz, he said that Dube has put pressure on the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant with his hitting.
"I said before the match that the way Shivam Dube has been playing, his ticket should be confirmed for the T20 World Cup. He has put a lot of pressure on players like Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul and now they have to score consistent runs to make the World Cup squad. Take the players who are in-form," he said.
Chennai Super Kings
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Irfan Pathan