In the early hours of Monday, when most of India was celebrating a historic T20 World Cup win, one of the stars of the Indian team was hiding on the top berth of an AC 3-tier coach on the Ahmedabad–Mumbai Sayaji Express.
Shivam Dube, his wife Anjum and a friend were looking for ways to get back to Mumbai in the aftermath of the World Cup win. However, with all the flights booked, Dube decided to use the train to get back home to his children.
Speaking to the Indian Express, Dube said there were no flights available for him to leave from Ahmedabad, so he decided to go by train.
“There were no flights available, so I decided to take a train early in the morning from Ahmedabad to Mumbai. We could have gone by road, but the train was faster.”Dube said.
The all-rounder admitted that he was scared of being recognised in public in a packed train, but used a disguise to go through the night. Dube covered himself with a mask, full-sleeved-tshirt and a cap before hiding away on the top berth of the train,
“Me, my wife and a friend decided to take the train. Third AC tickets were available, so we booked them. Everyone we spoke to was worried: family, friends. What if someone recognised me at the station or inside the train?” Dube added.
Even the ticket checker in the compartment was left puzzled to see Shivam Dube`s name in the ticket list and asked Dube`s wife if he was the cricketer, to which she quickly said no.
“‘Shivam Dube? Woh kaun hai, cricketer?’ the TC asked.
Anjum responded: “No, no. Woh kahan se aayega?” (Where would he come from?)
Dube managed to sleep through the night before the police came and helped him move from Borivali station to his home in broad daylight.
Shivam Dube was one of the Indian stars at the T20 World Cup Final
Shivam Dube had a night to remember in Ahmedabad at the T20 World Cup final. The Indian star all-rounder scored 24 runs in the last over to put India in a commanding position during the first innings of the match.
During the tournament, Dube was India`s fourth-highest run-scorer and scored a half-century during the tournament.
