Former Indian cricketer Abhishek Nayar has praised Shivam Dube for successfully stepping into Hardik Pandya's role as an all-rounder in India's T20I team. Dube participated in all five T20I matches during the recent white-ball series against Australia and has consistently demonstrated his value with both bat and ball. Nayar highlighted that Dube's contributions have ensured the team does not miss Hardik's presence in the format. The all-rounder has delivered crucial performances, including bowling important overs, taking key wickets, and scoring vital runs in different match situations. Before the Australia series, Dube was instrumental in India's Asia Cup 2025 triumph, where he even bowled with the new ball and played a valuable knock against Pakistan in the final. He is now expected to feature in the upcoming five-match T20I series against South Africa, scheduled to begin on November 14.
Nayar Praises Dube's All-Round Impact
Speaking on JioHotstar, Abhishek Nayar acknowledged that while Hardik Pandya is considered the ideal all-rounder India needs, Shivam Dube has proven he can fulfill that role effectively. Nayar emphasized that Dube bowls crucial overs, claims important wickets, and contributes meaningfully with the bat across various situations. Though Dube may not carry the stereotypical 'all-rounder' label, he performs every required function with flying colors when given opportunities by team management. In the fourth T20I at Carrara, Dube showcased his abilities with a useful 22 off 18 balls and impressive bowling figures of 2/20 in 4 overs, helping India secure a commanding 48-run victory over Australia.
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