India all-rounder Shivam Dube addressed concerns over the team’s struggling batting lineup, admitting that World Cup pressure has forced batters to adopt a more situational approach rather than the aggressive intent shown in recent bilaterals.
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Speaking at the post-match press conference following India’s 17-run victory over the Netherlands, Dube acknowledged how the tournament’s high stakes have changed the team’s approach, particularly when early wickets fall.
Abhishek Sharma, who has been instrumental in India’s recent T20I success, has failed to score a single run across three World Cup matches. Dube explained how such setbacks force middle-order batters like Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma to recalibrate.
“Sir, this is the World Cup. The game is a little difficult, not easy. If we don’t get the start we want, then the game of Tilak and Surya is different. They bat according to the situation. If the situation demands, they have to bat accordingly,” Dube said.
“If Tilak has to bat in a particular situation, then he does, and I don’t have to say anything about Surya because he is a player who can take the team to the best position,” he added.
Dube also emphasised that T20 cricket at this level involves more than just aggressive strokeplay. It requires managing pressure and knowing when to absorb dot balls.
“Yes, obviously, when you play dot balls in T20, you get pressure. But as a player, as a batsman, I know at that time that maybe right now if I am at two runs in 10 balls, but in the next five balls, if I hit two sixes, it will be covered,” Dube explained.
DOES INDIA HAVE CONCERNS VS OFF-SPIN?
Dube was also questioned about India’s apparent vulnerability against off-spin. Namibia’s Gerhard Erasmus troubled the batting order in an earlier group-stage clash, as did Pakistan’s Usman Tariq. Against the Netherlands, Aryan Dutt dismissed both Abhishek and Ishan Kishan.
However, Dube dismissed suggestions of a significant weakness, backing his teammates to find solutions.
“It’s nothing. There is no talk because sometimes batsmen cannot hit some balls, and yeah, it’s just about one shot. They start hitting that one shot and yes, there will be no talk about off-spin in coming matches,” Dube said.
When asked about India’s inability to post the 200-plus totals that became routine in pre-tournament bilaterals, Dube defended the team’s tactical nous, insisting they understand what constitutes a competitive score on different surfaces.
“Sir, we know that what runs we are scoring on wickets is one of the best scores. Like today on this wicket, we scored 190-plus, and on this wicket it was not easy to hit. Not from us but any of the team who would be playing, they wouldn’t be scoring so many runs. So what our team is scoring is, I think, the best score on that wicket,” he concluded.
India’s focus now shifts to the Super 8s, where they will look to continue their dominant run in hopes of becoming the first team to successfully defend the T20 World Cup title.
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