“I don’t think it’s an opportunity to replace Hardik Pandya"- Shivam Dube ahead of West Indies T20Is

Team India will resume its preparation towards building the squad for next years’ ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia with a plethora of bilateral series coming up in the next few months before the Indian Premier League takes center stage.

First up, is Kieron Pollard-led West Indies who will lock horns with the Men in Blue in a three-match T20I series, starting December 06 in Hyderabad. India have a few spots to lock in before the quadrennial event in Australia and their prime focus on the issues includes– preparing a back-up seam-bowling all-rounder for Hardik Pandya.

The best bet is currently Shivam Dube. The Mumbai all-rounder made his debut recently against Bangladesh and even though he didn’t show his batting prowess, Dube impressed with his ice-cool temperament with the ball when he bowled a decisive spell in the series decider.

Another good series and Dube might find himself firmly in the scheme of things for next year’s world cup. And, the right-handed bowler is looking at it as a chance to prove his worth and not as an opportunity to replace Hardik Pandya.

“I don’t think it’s an opportunity to replace Hardik but I think I have got a chance and I will try to do well for my country. I have got a job for my country and I will try to do that better,” Shivam Dube said, during an interaction with media

“Everyone is supporting me. The support from the captain and the team management was really good for me. They gave me a lot of confidence. So, I feel really happy and relaxed in the dressing room,” he added.

Shivam Dube opens up on the challenges of being an all-rounder

Being an all-rounder is not easy. In order to be successful for a long period of time, one has to constantly enhance his skillet set as well as maintain his fitness. And, Dube recognizes that.

“Most important for me is to maintain my fitness levels because as an all-rounder, you need to both bat and bowl. So, maintaining fitness is really a difficult job. I am very confident of my bowling. In T20 games, every bowler gets a bad as well as a good game. So, I try to prepare myself in very good situations and I feel that I can be a proper bowler who can bowl four overs. I have done that job,” he said.

When asked about his prediction for the series, Dube was confident that Team India has enough ammunition to beat the 2016 T20 champions. “They (West Indies) have got a good T20 side but we have prepared very nicely. I think India is the best team in world cricket and we will win the series,” he said.

India are currently on a six-match winning streak against the West Indies, after having whitewashed them- home and away- on consecutive occasions (3-0, 3-0 in 2018 & 2019).