Our Bureau
Visakhapatnam
Shivam Dube has laid down a powerful marker for India’s upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, smashing a blistering 65 off just 23 balls against New Zealand in Visakhapatnam. The 32‑year‑old all‑rounder hit a 15‑ball half‑century, the third‑quickest by an Indian men’s player in T20Is, underlining his role as a match‑winning middle‑order enforcer just days before the World Cup begins on February 7.
Dube walked in at No. 6 with India struggling at 63 for 4 in the 9th over and an asking rate hovering around 13 an over. He immediately took charge, clubbing seven sixes and three fours, including a first‑ball maximum off New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner. His assault on leg‑spinner Ish Sodhi yielded 29 runs in a single over, briefly reviving India’s chase before he was run out at the non‑striker’s end.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed that the experimental six‑batter line‑up was designed to test combinations ahead of the World Cup, giving Dube and others valuable game time. New Zealand, meanwhile, registered their first win of the series, with Santner praising the India‑in‑India contest as ideal preparation for the global showpiece.
Dube’s clean‑hitting against spin and improved work against pace have made him a sought‑after “floater” in the middle overs, a niche he honed with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. His 27 off 16 in the 2024 T20 World Cup final and his recent 15‑ball fifty have elevated him from impact sub to near‑undroppable all‑rounder, giving India a muscular wildcard option as they eye a title push in 2026.
