From struggle to strength: Shivam Dube's bowling evolution boosts India before 2026 T20 WC

Shivam Dube has been impressive with the ball of late [Source: AFP]

Team India has enjoyed stellar success in the T20I series against Australia. Despite losing the ODI series by 2-1, the visitors pulled up their socks in time and bounced back remarkably by winning two out of the first four games in the T20I leg. 

While batting exploits from Abhishek Sharma have grabbed the limelight, Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav have caught the critics' attention with a string of torrid outings. 

Meanwhile, one crucial factor that has silently slipped under the radar amid India's T20I dominance since the Asia Cup is Shivam Dube's resurgence as a potent seamer. 

Shivam Dube's resurgence with the ball since Asia Cup

(Shivam Dube's evolution as a bowler since 2025 Asia Cup)

Key observations and inference

• The stats in the table above indicate that Shivam Dube has recently been more active as a bowler than he was before the 2024 T20 World Cup. Since the Asia Cup, Dube has bowled more than 2.5 overs per innings, while the number stood at 1.875 until the T20 World Cup. 
• The medium pacer has certainly been more impactful with the ball since the Asia Cup, scalping eight wickets at an impressive average of 20.5 and a strike rate of 13.5. Dube's bowling average and strike rate were 46.37 and 28.12, respectively, until the T20 World Cup last year. So, he has undoubtedly evolved his numbers through sheer effort, rediscovering his bowling mojo before the 2026 T20 World Cup. 

Possible reasons and areas that Dube has improved

Gautam Gambhir-led Indian management's preference for multi-dimensional players could be one of the primary reasons why Dube has worked on his bowling skills. With the 2026 T20 World Cup coming up, the Indian think tank must've had conversations with Dube, convincing him that he would add more value to the team as an all-rounder than as a specialist batter. 

Apart from the needs of the team, Dube's improved fitness has certainly played a part in his resurgence as a bowler. He is visibly leaner and fitter, and his excellent returns suggest two key areas of improvement, as mentioned below. 

Shivam Dube, the hard length specialist

• Shivam Dube doesn't have a searing pace like Jasprit Bumrah. However, he is 6'4" and has used his height to trouble the opponent batters. Dube is utilising his shoulders to the fullest, generating spongy bounce and hitting the bat up the splice. 
• The way he recently bamboozled Tim David with a surprising bouncer showcased his evolution as a hard-length bowler, whom India can use in the middle overs. 

Shivam Dube has added variations and cutters to his arsenal

• A player like Shivam Dube, who operates at 125-130 Kph, simply can't succeed with good or full-length deliveries in modern-day cricket. Such medium pacers must have some variations up their sleeves to outfox the batters. Dube has understood it, adding cutters, cross-seamers and wily variations to his bowling stock. 
• This has certainly helped Dube become more impactful than ever in T20Is, boosting his morale as well. The 32-year-old is confident of his bowling calibre; that is why he didn't feel any pressure when India asked him to open the bowling in the Asia Cup. Instead, he passed the challenge with flying colours, scalping five wickets at a superb strike rate of 15. 

Shivam Dube's rise with the ball: A blessing for India before T20 WC

Shivam Dube's evolution as a bowler is undoubtedly a massive boost for India ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Amid Hardik Pandya and Nitish Reddy's fitness concerns, Dube has given India the much-needed assurance of having a quality all-rounder. 

Honestly, Shivam Dube's big-hitting ability against both pace and spin was never an issue. So, his rise as a bowler has not only made him one of India's most trustworthy multi-dimensional weapons but also given them the freedom to experiment with the remainder of the lineup, which would've been a daunting task had he been available purely as a batter. 

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