I'll be highly disappointed if Shivam Dube does not go to the World Cup: Irfan Pathan

Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan spoke on the abilities of Shivam Dube and whether he will make it to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Pathan stated that he will be extremely disappointed if the CSK all-rounder does not make it to the Indian squad for the mega event, which is set to be played in the West Indies and USA in June. Pathan reckoned that Dube's rise will also put pressure on Hardik Pandya, who is believed to be the first-choice all-rounder alongside Ravindra Jadeja for the World Cup. 

“See eventually there will be a time where he'll put pressure on Hardik Pandya. If he starts bowling, the kind of hitting ability that Shivam Dube has, it's next to anyone. He's been able to murder the spinner. No one comes close to him as far as Indian cricket is concerned who are currently playing or trying to play. You can negate Mahendra Singh Dhoni because he has retired. But when it comes to batting in the middle overs, Shivam Dube is the best and I'll be highly disappointed if he doesn't go to the World Cup, because that's the thing we have missed in T20 World cups, in so many World cups, we've missed a guy like Yuvraj Singh, who can hit six sixes. Who can get a half century in 16, 17 balls. Shivam Dube is the kind of guy who plays fearlessly from the word go," Pathan said on Star Sports Press Room.

Also read: 'Give me your passport, I will apply for your visa' - Aakash Chopra bats for Shivam Dube's inclusion in T20 WC squad

"I was watching the game, he came in, first ball against the left arm spinner first ball, second ball hit out of the park, I haven't seen anything like that. Yes, Hardik’s ability as a hitter has gone down, and that is why a lot of people are talking about Shivam Dube as well. It might be that both of them will take the flight to the World Cup, because you have to take experience as well, but I'm very excited about Shivam Dube and what he can bring to the table,” he added.

Pathan further spoke on what RCB lacks this IPL 2024, stating that the franchise needs to have a "good auction". Pathan was also critical of RCB's decision to not retain the likes of KL Rahul and Yuzvendra Chahal in the past while he expressed his surprise on the fact the think-tank did not go hard for a spinner in the auction in December last year.

“This is what I think. Their work starts in the auction. They need to have a better auction as far as bowling is concerned. They should not have let go of Yuzvendra Chahal and they should not have let go of [Wanindu] Hasaranga. They have let go of so many good players in the past. KL Rahul as well. If they can get one or two players who can win the trophy, RCB is a team which is loved by the fans, which is right, but is it enough for them? They just need to think about it really sharply, otherwise they are just going to get the same result.”

Also read: Shivam Dube never really broke free in the RCB changing room: AB de Villiers

Pathan elaborated further on Chahal's inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad, stating, "In the last World Cup in Australia, I kept saying that even during the semi-final, when all the commentators were there, from Nasser Hussain to Ravi Shastri, I said get Chahal and get to the final. But he was not there in the playing XI. What I want from Team India is to have a proper bowling unit. A wrist-spinner is a must in the playing XI. When you go to the World Cup, a wrist-spinner has to be there. So, Kuldeep Yadav is in great form. You'll have Jadeja as a left-arm spinning all-rounder because you need two spinners. So, it might happen that Chahal might miss out. Because you will obviously think whether you are going to take two fast bowlers or you're going to take three spinners. But, if a guy like Chahal who is a wrist spinner is not there in the Indian team, we're going to have a similar result to what we had before."