T20 World Cup 2026: Shivam Dube credits MS Dhoni for overcoming short-ball troubles
After the match, the all-rounder credited former CSK captain MS Dhoni for helping him overcome his struggles against short-pitched bowling.
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India’s middle-order batter Shivam Dube delivered in the recent T20 World Cup 2026 clash against the Netherlands at Ahmedabad. Dube turned the game on its head with a 66 off just 31 balls, guiding India to 193/6. After the match, the all-rounder credited former CSK captain MS Dhoni for helping him overcome his struggles against short-pitched bowling.
Speaking after being named Player of the Match, Dube reflected on his past struggles against the short ball during the IPL. He admitted there was a time he could not connect cleanly against bouncers despite having the power. However, he shared about Dhoni’s advice that changed his mindset.
“There was a time when I came to IPL, I was struggling a bit against short balls, at that time I was not able to hit them so cleanly, but then I realized that if I have to dominate at this level and I have that power, then why should I lag because of one thing, so I worked a lot on that thing during the off season. Mahi bhai had told me that it is not necessary that you have to hit a six on that ball, you can hit a boundary or take a single, so that thing was always in my mind that when I come in at the start,” Dube said.
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In the game, India had opted to bat first at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Abhishek Sharma registered his third duck of the tournament, while the Dutch bowlers, led by Aryan Dutt, kept things tight in the powerplay.
Dube’s innings began slowly, scoring just six runs off his first 11 deliveries and even surviving a close lbw call. However, he then targeted the spinners and capitalized on predictable changes of pace, as he dismantled the Dutch attack. His half-century came off just 25 balls, featuring four boundaries and six sixes.
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Alongside Hardik Pandya, who contributed a handy 30 off 21 balls, Dube stitched a crucial 119-run stand in the final 10 overs. India scored 75 runs in the last five overs alone. Dube eventually fell in the 19th over, but the damage had been done. With the ball too, Dube contributed, picking up 2/35 to further hurt the Netherlands’ chase. Though the Dutch batters fought hard and finished at 176/7, India secured a 17-run victory, extending their winning streak in the tournament.
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