T20 World Cup: 'He can even concede four sixes in an over against West Indies…': Former Indian batsman on Shivam Dube as a bowler

Shivam Dube: potential match-winner or a ticking time bomb with the ball? That’s the million-dollar question swirling around the Indian team as they navigate the T20 World Cup. A former Indian batsman has sparked a debate, suggesting Dube could be taken to the cleaners, even against the West Indies. Is that a fair assessment, or an overly harsh critique of a player still finding his feet?

Dube's inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad was always going to be a talking point. He brings that explosive power with the bat, the kind that can change a game in a few blistering overs. We saw glimpses of it in the IPL 2024, where he tonked bowlers all over the park. But his bowling… well, that's where opinions diverge. He offers a left-arm option, something India sometimes lack, but does he have the consistency and guile to survive against top-quality batsmen on these pitches? The West Indies, with their power-packed lineup, are the kind of team that can expose any weakness.

Here's the thing: Dube isn't a frontline bowler, and nobody expects him to be. He's a batting all-rounder who can chip in with a couple of overs. The key is using him smartly. Bring him on when the pressure is slightly off, perhaps against less established batsmen, or when you need to change the pace. Asking him to bowl crucial overs against Nicholas Pooran or Andre Russell? That could be a recipe for disaster, just as the former Indian batsman alluded to.

What's fascinating is the comparison to other batting all-rounders in the past. Think of Yuvraj Singh, who wasn't express pace but had the knack of picking up crucial wickets. Or even someone like Suresh Raina, who could bowl handy off-spin. Dube needs to develop that kind of smarts and deception. He needs to understand his limitations and bowl accordingly. Just blasting the ball at 130 kph isn't going to cut it at this level. He needs to develop variations, bowl to his field, and most importantly, have the confidence to execute his plans under pressure.

The numbers tell a story, and they aren't overwhelmingly in Dube's favour when it comes to bowling economy. He's been expensive at times, especially in high-pressure situations. But let's be honest, he hasn't always been given the best opportunities to succeed. Sometimes he's been thrown the ball in tough situations, asked to stem the flow of runs when the opposition is already on top. That’s a thankless task for any bowler, let alone one who's still developing his skills.

India's success in the T20 World Cup may well depend on how Rohit Sharma uses Shivam Dube. If he's used judiciously, as a part-time option to exploit matchups, he can be an asset. If he's relied upon to bowl crucial overs consistently, he could become a liability. The balance is delicate, and it's up to the captain and the team management to strike it right. Keep a close eye on his economy rate and how he performs under pressure; that will tell us everything we need to know about Dube's role in this tournament. Can he rise to the occasion and prove his doubters wrong? That's the exciting part.