India kicked off their Asia Cup 2025 campaign in style with a commanding nine-wicket win over the UAE in Dubai on September 10. While big hitters like Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav dominated the headlines, it was Shivam Dube’s unexpected brilliance with the ball that quietly made a significant impact.
The 32-year-old all-rounder didn’t get a chance to bat, but his short spell with the ball was enough to make a statement. Bowling just two overs of right-arm medium pace, Dube picked up 3 wickets for just 4 runs—his best-ever bowling figures in T20 internationals.
Dube’s Bowling Resurgence Under Gambhir and Morkel
For the last few IPL seasons with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Dube has barely bowled—just three overs across three years—mainly due to the Impact Player rule, which has reduced the role of all-rounders. But the new Indian team setup under head coach Gautam Gambhir and T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has reignited his bowling career.
Coming in as India’s sixth bowling option against the UAE, Dube was promised one or two overs in every game. And he has delivered. In his last three T20Is, he has taken five wickets in four overs at an economy rate of under 4.
A key reason behind this transformation is India’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel. Dube credits the former South African pacer for sharpening his skills.
“Morne has given me very specific advice,” Dube said after the match. “He asked me to bowl a line just outside off-stump, helped me develop a slower delivery, and even tweaked my run-up a bit. The coaching staff had already told me my bowling would play a role, and I was prepared.”
Dube also emphasized that even though he didn’t bowl much in the IPL, he kept working on it during the off-season, spending two months improving his fitness and refining his bowling.
Learning from Hardik, Working on Short Ball Weakness
Dube also opened up about his relationship with fellow pace-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya, calling him “a brother” and a constant source of learning.
“I’ve never seen it as a comparison. Hardik has so much experience in IPL and international cricket. I always try to learn from him—both in terms of bowling and batting,” Dube said.
On the batting front, he mentioned that he’s focused on expanding his range of shots, particularly to counter the short-ball tactic that has troubled him in the past. With a clear role as a middle-over power-hitter, Dube has been putting in the work behind the scenes.
“I’ve trained hard over the last two months. Bowlers used to target me with short balls, so I’ve worked on adding new shots to handle that better.”
Every Match Is an Opportunity to Do Something Special
Looking ahead to India’s much-anticipated clash against Pakistan on September 14, Dube made it clear that he doesn’t take any match lightly—no matter the opponent.
“For me, every game is important, whether it’s against UAE or Pakistan. Gauti bhai always says—whenever you play for India, it’s a chance to do something miraculous.”
With a renewed role in India’s T20 setup and his confidence growing, Shivam Dube’s form could be a major boost as India aims to go all the way in the Asia Cup 2025.
