Me and Ravindra Jadeja were confident we would win; that belief drove us in last over of IPL 2023 final: Shivam Dube

The 16th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) was a riveting affair, with ten teams slugging it out to win the coveted prize. In the end, defending champions Gujarat Titans and four-time champions Chennai Super Kings reached the summit clash in Ahmedabad.

In the rain-marred final, it all boiled down to the last over, where Chennai needed 13 runs to equal Mumbai Indians' record of five IPL titles. Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja were at the crease, facing an in-form Mohit Sharma. The first four deliveries yielded just three runs, as it seemed that Gujarat had one hand on the silverware. However, Jadeja hit a six and a four to send the Super Kings faithful into a frenzy.

Dube, who remained unbeaten on 32 off 21 balls, recently gave an insight into how he and Jadeja were thinking in the last over. The CSK all-rounder stated that they were confident of pulling it off, and that belief held them in good stead.

“In the last over, we needed 13 runs, and both of us were power hitters at the crease - me and Jaddu bhai. We were confident we would win; that belief drove us. We didn't worry about who'd hit the winning runs. Mohit bhai bowled a brilliant yorker as the first ball, and though I planned a big shot to put pressure on him, he bowled the next four balls well, and we got 3 runs. Now, 10 runs were required. But still both of us had a positive intent and the belief we could do it," Dube said in a conversation on JioCinema’s daily show ‘#AAKASHVANI,’ hosted by Aakash Chopra.

"On the fifth ball, Jaddu hit a six, changing the game completely. I knew that in the IPL, you don't see players running 3 or 4 runs, especially on such a big ground it might go through a gap, and I might have to run fast. 3 runs could lead to a super over. So, I kept myself ready, and as soon as the bat connected, I ran as fast as I could without realising that the ball had already gone for a boundary!"

MS Bhaiya always tells me the graph will go up and everything will fall into place: Shivam Dube

The 30-year-old said that his target for the next five years is to play for India and to win the World Cup. Dube also revealed the advice he got from the legendary CSK captain, MS Dhoni.

“My goal is to play for India, to represent the country, and to win the World Cup for India. The direction in which I am headed is the right one. And I do seek advice from MS Bhaiya about how he used to play, and he always tells me that the graph will go up slowly, everything will fall into place, and the time will come," Dube concluded.

The left-handed batter recently returned to the India squad for the T20I series in Ireland.