Aakash Chopra suggested retaining both Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya in India’s T20 World Cup squad, highlighting Dube’s explosive power reminiscent of Yuvraj Singh.
Former cricketer Aakash Chopra advocates for India including both Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya in their 2024 T20 World Cup squad. Despite Hardik’s absence in the recent T20I series against Afghanistan due to an ankle injury, Chopra emphasized the need to have both all-rounders, citing Dube’s explosive power reminiscent of Yuvraj Singh.
Dube emerged as the top run-scorer in the Afghanistan series with 124 runs and showcased his seam-bowling skills. Expressing that both players complement each other, Chopra believes Dube’s strong series performance and a successful IPL would strengthen his case for selection in the T20 World Cup squad.
“Shivam Ati Sundaram – his power is talking loudly. I felt he was sent slightly early in the third match. You could have sent either Sanju Samson or Rinku Singh ahead of him because he is not a grafter, he is an attacker. He reminds me of Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh). So you need to keep him slightly down the order,” Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
“The way he hit sixes in the first two matches, the power was evident. Some people have even said to leave Hardik and pick Dube. I am saying keep both. Shivam Dube is a real contender based on these three matches. If he does well in the IPL, it will be the icing on the cake,” he added.
Furthermore, the cricketer-turned-commentator emphasized the significance of power in the T20 format, particularly in spinner-friendly conditions expected in the Caribbean and the United States. With decent-sized grounds, he underscored the importance of explosive batting. The T20 World Cup is scheduled to commence on June 2, 2024.
Last Updated on January 19, 2024
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