Chennai Super Kings suffered their second consecutive defeat in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 despite Shivam Dube continuing his splendid form with the bat. The all-rounder scored a whopping 24-ball 45 but his dismissal saw CSK restricted to 165/5 by Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday. While it was Abhishek Sharma whose blitzkrieg entertained fans the most in the match, it was Dube who received Yuvraj Singh's backing to be selected in Team India's T20 World Cup 2024 squad. The IPL is being seen as the ideal platform for Indian players to showcase their talent in the shortest format of the game, to warrant a place in the World Cup squad, and Yuvraj wants Dube to be on the roster.
Taking to social media on Friday, Yuvraj advocated for Dube to be selected for the Indian team for the showpiece event that takes place in June this year.
"Good to watch @IamShivamDube clearing the field with ease !! I feel he has to be in the World Cup squad. Has got the skill to be the #gamechanger #CSKvsSRH #IPLT20," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
As for the match, after a clinical bowling display from the Sunrisers, it was Abhishek's batting masterclass for just 12 balls that defined the outcome of the game. While chasing 166, Travis Head and Abhishek went all guns blazing in the opening overs of the powerplay. Later, Head and Aiden Markram showed composure in the next overs as they picked their moments to score runs and take SRH home.
For CSK, Shivam Dube top-scored with 45 off 24 while Ajinkya Rahane played a crucial knock of 35 runs in 30 deliveries. Bhuvneshwar, T Natarajan, Pat Cummins and Jaydev Unadkat bagged one wicket each as SRH restricted CSK to a moderate total.
The seasoned pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar drew the first blood for SRH as he bagged the big wicket of Rachin Ravindra on 12. Captain Pat Cummins' decision to get Shahbaz Ahmed's spin prowess into the game proved successful as he dismissed Ruturaj Gaikwad on his very first ball of the 8th over.
Shivam Dube did not let SRH celebrate the Ruturaj dismissal for long as he started his innings with a six and a four in the very same over. Dube picked up 11 from the very over that saw the CSK captain depart.
With his explosive batting, Dube picked two huge sixes and brought up the fifty partnership with Ajinkya Rahane within just 29 balls.
Cummins got the wicket of the dangerous Dube on his score of 45 (23). The Hyderabad skipper took up the job to get rid of Dube, who had been in a punishing mood in front of the other pace options of SRH.
With ANI Inputs