Shivam Dube amassed 124 runs in three games against Afghanistan while claiming two wickets. His best, 63 off 32 balls, came in the second Twenty20 International.
At the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday, the Men in Blue emerged victors after two Super Overs in the thrilling third and final Twenty20 International between India and Afghanistan. India won the match 3-0 and won the series with great effort. All-rounder Shivam Dube was a key player in India’s series victory over the visitors.
With the exception of the last match at the Chinnaswamy, Dube was instrumental in helping India win the first two matches. He won Player of the Series thanks to his performances throughout the series. After receiving the honor, the 30-year-old batter acknowledged his satisfaction, saying that all players aspire to win Player of the Series. After the third Twenty20 International, Dube remarked, “Definitely a wonderful series, you dream of winning this award as an all-rounder, happy to have achieved it.”
Afghanistan scored 158/5 in the opening game at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali, following India’s decision to send them into bat first. Thanks to Dube’s masterful batting performance, India easily reached the goal of 159 and won the match by six wickets. With five boundaries and two sixes, the southpaw hit an undefeated 60 in 40 balls. He not only played brilliantly at bat in the game at Mohali, but he also claimed the vital wicket of Afghanistan’s captain, Ibrahim Zadran, early in the contest. He finished with numbers of 1/9 in two overs.
Dube demonstrated that his performance in Mohali was not a one-off, as he repeated his exploits in the second game at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. India decided to bowl in the second game, as it had in the first, and Afghanistan scored 172 in 20 overs. In response, India easily chased down the goal and won the second match by six wickets, with Dube remaining unbroken and smashing 63 in 32 balls, including five boundaries and four maximums. Though Dube struggled with the bat in the final game, his performance in the series cemented his place as a top contender for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
