Visakhapatnam: Some innings win matches, and then some innings win respect. On a Wednesday night in Vizag, Shivam Dube didn’t just play cricket; he waged a solitary war against the New Zealand attack, turning a hopeless collapse into a thriller that kept 25,000 fans on the edge of their seats.
While India ultimately lost the 4th T20I by 50 runs, the scorecard doesn’t tell the full story of Dube’s savagery. Walking in when the Men in Blue were crumbling at 82/5 with big guns like Suryakumar Yadav and Abhishek Sharma back in the hut, Dube decided to throw caution to the wind.
What followed was carnage. Dube smashed a 15-ball half-century, unleashing a barrage of sixes that reminded fans of Yuvraj Singh in his prime.
He didn’t just hit the spinners; he pulled the pacers, clearing the long boundaries of the ACA-VDCA Stadium with terrifying ease. His final score of 65 off just 23 balls was a masterclass in clean striking, boasting a strike rate of over 282.
Key Statistics from the Match
- Target: 216 Runs
- India Score: 165/10 (18.4 Overs)
- Shivam Dube: 65 Runs (23 Balls)
- Strike Rate: 282.61
- Milestone: 50 runs in 15 balls (One of the fastest by an Indian).
- Series Status: India leads 3-1.
However, cricket can be a cruel game. Lacking support from the other end, Dube’s dismissal via a run-out marked the end of India’s resistance.
The series now stands at 3-1, but as Team India packs their bags for the final game in Thiruvananthapuram, one thing is clear: Shivam Dube has locked his spot for the T20 World Cup 2026. The Sixer King is peaking at exactly the right time.
The Technical Evolution of Shivam Dube
What went unnoticed amidst the sixes in Vizag was a subtle technical shift in Dube’s batting stance. For years, critics labeled him purely a spin-basher, vulnerable to short-pitched bowling from express pacers. However, in this innings against New Zealand, Dube displayed a transformed back-foot game.
He wasn’t just clearing his front leg; he was pivoting. By staying slightly more side-on than in previous seasons, Dube has opened up the entire arc from long-on to deep square leg against pace.
This modification allows him to handle the extra bounce, something he will face in abundance during the upcoming World Cup. This isn’t just power; it’s the maturity of a batter who has plugged the biggest hole in his armor.
