Shivam Dube starred for India with both ball and bat in 1st T20I [X.com]
The star for India in the first T20I against touring Afghanistan in Mohali last evening, Shivam Dube, has earned praise from former India star Suresh Raina.
Raina, who played the role of the finisher in T20Is for India, stated that Dube could become the 'Man of the Tournament' in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 if the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) player has a terrific Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
Dube came back into the national reckoning after a stellar IPL 2023 for CSK, where the 30-year-old scored 418 runs with three fifties, and went to justify his selection against Afghanistan, scoring a match-winning 60* and picking up a solitary wicket.
Speaking on Colors Cineplex, Raina, known as Mr. IPL for his magnificent run with CSK, stated that Dube could end up being utilized more as a bowler by MS Dhoni in IPL 2024.
"A lot of eyes will be on Shivam Dube in this IPL about how MS Dhoni uses him in Chennai. If he does well in the two months of the IPL, don't be surprised if he is the Man of the Tournament in the World Cup. Since he is bowling, the captain could get a thought whether he can bowl two overs or if he can be used as a floater. He can bat anywhere from No. 4 to No. 7. When the matches will be played on the Caribbean or American wickets, he has a good slower one as well."
So far in 19 T20Is, Dube has scored 212 runs and claimed seven wickets, while in 51 IPL matches, the all-rounder has amassed 1,106 runs and picked up four wickets.