Shivam Dube played a key role in India’s recent T20 World Cup 2026 match against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad, scoring 66 runs off 31 balls and helping the team reach 193/6. After the game, Dube credited former CSK captain MS Dhoni for his growth against short-pitched bowling.
After being named Player of the Match, Dube discussed how he previously struggled with bouncers during the IPL. He revealed that, despite his power, he had difficulty connecting with short balls. However, Dhoni’s advice helped shift his thinking.
“During my early IPL days, I faced challenges with short balls and couldn’t connect well. I understood that if I wanted to succeed at this level, I needed to improve. Mahi bhai told me that hitting a six wasn’t always necessary; a boundary or a single could be effective. That advice stayed with me,” Dube said.
In the match, India chose to bat first at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Abhishek Sharma scored a duck, while the Dutch bowlers, led by Aryan Dutt, kept the pressure during the powerplay.
Dube started slowly, managing just six runs off his first 11 balls. After surviving a close lbw decision, he shifted focus to the spinners, exploiting their tactics to score aggressively. He reached his half-century in just 25 balls, hitting four boundaries and six sixes.
Partnering with Hardik Pandya, who scored 30 off 21 balls, Dube built a crucial 119-run partnership in the last 10 overs, contributing to India’s total. They added 75 runs in the last five overs. Dube was dismissed in the 19th over, but his impact was significant. With the ball, he also took 2 wickets for 35 runs, further affecting the Netherlands’ chase. Although the Dutch team finished at 176/7, India secured a 17-run victory, continuing their winning streak in the tournament.
