Shivam Dube's Bowling Progress Impresses Stephen Fleming Ahead of T20 World Cup

Former New Zealand skipper and Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming has lauded Indian all-rounder Shivam Dube for his unwavering dedication to honing his bowling skills ahead of the 2024 Indian Premier League season. Dube, who is an integral part of India's T20 World Cup squad, could play a pivotal role with the ball if the situation demands.

Despite bowling consistently in the home series against Afghanistan, Dube only managed to bowl a solitary over during the IPL season. However, his bowling prowess came into sharp focus when he delivered three overs in the recent warm-up match against Bangladesh. His unique bowling style could prove advantageous on the low and slow tracks expected in the Caribbean.

Fleming, in an interview with ESPNcricinfo, discussed Dube's progress and the impact of the IPL's impact player rule on his development as a bowler. "If his bowling is the way he talks about it, he's like Kapil Dev. He has been working really hard. He worked hard through the IPL. We had a number of players that could do the all-round role, and again, with the impact player rule, it actually diminishes the role of an all-rounder or a part-time bowler who bats well, which is a bit of a shame," Fleming said.

Dube has taken eight wickets in 21 T20Is, with an average of 45 and an economy rate of 9.86. Despite these modest figures, his tall frame and gentle pace could be beneficial for Team India in the T20 World Cup. The team may require overs from players outside the main bowling attack, especially if they opt to play three spinners.

"He's been doing his bowling, he has had his loads up. He can be awkward [to face] in the right conditions, which you'd say would be a little bit slow, where his cutters and change of pace could play a part. He can play a part, he can do a job and he has worked very hard on it," Fleming added.

As Team India prepares to kickstart their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland in New York on Wednesday, the inclusion of Dube in the playing XI remains a point of interest. His contributions, both with the bat and ball, could prove pivotal in India's quest for T20 World Cup success.

Tags: #ShivamDube, #StephenFleming, #T20WorldCup, #IndianCricket, #AllRounder