Sports

‘Some Suggest Choose Shivam Dube Over Hardik Pandya,’ Says Ex-India Opener Akash Chopra on all-rounder’s debate for T20 World Cup

Renowned former India opener Aakash Chopra has expressed his belief that both Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya should be considered vital assets for India’s T20 World Cup squad. While Hardik Pandya has been on the sidelines since sustaining an ankle injury during an ODI World Cup match against New Zealand last year, he is anticipated to make a comeback as the captain of Mumbai Indians in the upcoming IPL 2024.

Aakash Chopra on T-20 World Cup team

Chopra acknowledges that if Hardik remains fit, he will undoubtedly be India’s primary seam-bowling all-rounder for the ICC event scheduled to take place in the USA and the West Indies in June. However, in Hardik’s absence, Shivam Dube has showcased his potential with noteworthy performances against Afghanistan.

The tall all-rounder, who made his return to the Indian side midway through last year, seized the opportunities provided during the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. Dube’s consecutive half-centuries in Mohali and Indore, coupled with a couple of wickets, earned him the Player of the Series award with a total of 124 runs.

Chopra, drawing parallels with the six-hitting prowess of the great Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, emphasized Dube’s attacking style of play. Despite suggesting a slightly lower batting order for Dube, Chopra firmly believes that both Hardik and Dube should be included in the T20 World Cup squad.

Highlighting Dube’s power-hitting, Chopra noted, “Shivam Dube’s power is talking loudly… He reminds me of Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh). So you need to keep him slightly down the order.” The former batter emphasized that the T20 format values power, especially considering the spinner-friendly pitches expected in the Caribbean and the United States, where the boundaries are relatively large.

Also read: IND vs AFG 3rd T20: Rohit Sharma’s Six-Hitting Steals the Show in India’s Double Super Over Triumph Against Afghanistan

In conclusion, Chopra expressed confidence in Dube’s potential impact, especially if he performs well in the upcoming IPL, considering it as the “icing on the cake” for his selection in the T20 World Cup squad

Kavya Bhatt

Recent Posts

JP Nadda Slams Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Match-Fixing’ Claims As ‘Desperation Of Losing’ Polls

Rahul Gandhi's opinion piece appeared in a national daily and sparked political uproar. Opposition parties…

5 hours ago

Poverty In India Reduced Via Tangible Boost In Household Living Standards, Incomes

In 2022–23, poverty under the revised $3.00 line stood at just 5.25 per cent in…

5 hours ago

Chhattisgarh: Seven Maoists Killed In Indravati National Park Operation

Five Maoists were killed in two separate encounters with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district,…

6 hours ago

Carney Invites Modi To G7 Summit, Highlights India’s Global Supply Chain Role

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the most populous country, with the fifth-largest economy, must…

6 hours ago

RBI Frontloads Rate Cuts To Boost Growth Amid Low Inflation: Crisil

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has frontloaded its rate cuts to support economic growth,…

7 hours ago

PM Modi Urges Global Action On Coastal Resilience At Nice Summit

PM Narendra Modi on Saturday called for urgent global action to build infrastructure that can…

7 hours ago