Struggles on New York Pitches
Shivam Dube, the big-hitting all-rounder from India, found the two-paced tracks in New York quite challenging during the T20 World Cup matches. He felt the conditions were so tough that it reminded him of playing in the Ranji Trophy. Used to batting on smoother pitches in India, Dube had a hard time adjusting. However, he managed to regain some form by scoring a crucial 35-ball 31 in India’s seven-wicket win over the USA, which helped India advance to the Super Eight stage of the tournament. The World Cup will now move entirely to the West Indies for the next phase.
Adapting to Difficult Conditions
Dube admitted that he was struggling with his form and had to focus on his process. Despite his previous failures against Ireland and Pakistan, he received strong support from the coaches and staff. They encouraged him to use his ability to hit sixes, despite the challenging conditions. Dube realized that the New York pitches required a different approach than what he was used to at Chennai Super Kings. This change in mindset helped him adjust his batting technique for the match against the USA.
Challenges and Performance
Before his composed knock against the USA, Dube had a tough time in the World Cup and IPL. He scored just 36 runs in five IPL innings and had low scores in the World Cup matches. Chasing a modest target of 111 against the USA, India struggled at 44/3 on a difficult pitch. Dube also found it hard to time the ball initially but managed to hit an 87-metre six off Corey Anderson in the 15th over. He compared the experience to playing in the Ranji Trophy due to the challenging conditions, noting the difficulty in hitting sixes from the start.
Bowling and Future Prospects
Despite the batting struggles, Dube enjoyed bowling on these tracks. He mentioned that batting in these conditions was tough, both during matches and in practice. However, he found it better to bowl, though he didn’t get many opportunities after being hit for a six. Dube stated that he wouldn’t erase these memories since it was his first World Cup. He highlighted the unique challenges of batting at this venue, where the ball behaved unpredictably. Additionally, he mentioned that playing in a makeshift stadium with a challenging backdrop made it harder to judge the ball.
Regarding Virat Kohli’s poor form, Dube expressed confidence in the senior batter’s ability to bounce back, noting that Kohli’s bad patch was temporary and he would soon return to scoring hundreds.
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