Former India batter Ambati Rayudu believes that MI captain Hardik Pandya and CSK all-rounder Shivam Dube, are not battling for the same spot in the India squad which will travel for the upcoming 2024 T20 World Cup. Dube showcased some brilliant batting prowess in CSK’s clash against LSG in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, on April 23. Batting first at Chepauk, it was Dube’s 66 (27) and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s unbeaten 108 (60) that lifted CSK to set a 211-run target for LSG. However, Marcus Stoinis’s sensational 124* (63), led LSG to do the double over the defending champions with a win by 6 wickets.
Coming into bat at number 5, it was Dube who gave Ruturaj the much-needed support at the crease after the CSK top-order failed to maintain their ground and went 3 wickets down within the powerplay. Dube and Riuturaj went on to build a crucial 104-run partnership, giving their side a fiery finish to the innings.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Rayudu explained how Shivam Dube plays an entirely different role to that of Hardik Pandya in the Indian national team.
“Both of them are not competing for the same spot. Hardik and Jadeja are finishers in the Indian team, and Dube is the kind of batter who comes in at No. 4 or 5. When the spinners are operating and conditions are slow, he can hit boundaries and accelerate to change the game. But between overs 16 and 20, Dube’s strike rate isn’t that high, he fails to hit that many runs. So I feel Hardik and Jadeja have that role in the Indian team,” Rayudu said.
