‘Lesson is Never Give Up’ – Twitterati motivates Shivam Dube after his 34-run over against New Zealand

Shivam Dube made his international debut back in November 2019 against Bangladesh at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. He has played 13 T20Is thus far and has had to strain every sinew for success. In the third match of his career, Dube turned up with three crucial wickets versus the Tigers, taking India to a 2-1 series win. The left-hander also got a half-century against the West Indies.

But apart from them, he has tended to struggle. Recently, he played all five matches in the T20I series in New Zealand. To his dismay, he had a rough outing. Dube got chances to bat in all the contests where he could manage 40 runs at an average of 10.25. His strike-rate of 117.14 also showed that he couldn’t find his timing. Even with the ball in hand, Dube picked only a couple of wickets at an economy of 11.33.

Dube’s nightmare in Mount Maunganui

The fifth and final T20I at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui might have sent shivers down Dube’s spine. To start with, he was sent to bat at number four. But he gave his wicket to fast bowler Scot Kuggelejin after hitting a solitary boundary. The series went from bad to worse for Dube after he handed the ball during the Kiwis run-chase. When he came to bowl, the Black Caps needed 100 runs off 11 overs.

Tim Seifert deposited him for a couple of sixes to start the over. Then it was Ross Taylor’s turn to join the party. The veteran, playing his 100th T20I, smacked a no-ball from Dube to the boundary and then muscled the free hit for a six in the cow corner. Taylor finished the over with another six and Dube ended up leaking 34 runs. Meanwhile, the required rate came down from around nine to 6.50.

However, with their backs pushed to the walls, India came back and won by seven runs. While Dube has been criticized for the poor over, a section of the users on Twitter, has also been motivating him. One of them put forth Stuart Broad’s example of comeback after Yuvraj Singh took him for 36 runs in 2007.

Here is how Twitterati consoled Shivam Dube: –