Team India Questioned As Shivam Dube Spends All 5 T20Is Against New Zealand On Bench

Shivam Dube benched for all 5 T20Is against New Zealand© BCCI/Creimas

As India concluded the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, a number of stars did not get to play a single game. When the team took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series, many expected some of the bench players to be given an opportunity in the final two matches. However, only a handful of players were promoted into the playing XI. The likes of Kuldeep Yadav, Shivam Dube, Auqib Nabi, and Kumar Kushagra did not play a single match. The decision to keep Dube on the bench for the entire series left former India batter Aakash Chopra baffled.

Speaking to Cricinfo, Chopra expressed surprise at seeing Dube remain an unused player in the series, despite him performing well in the Asian Games final and featuring in the ODI series against England.

"Dube played the Asian Games final and scored runs, and he has also played ODI cricket against England. You cannot just say that he is no longer needed. I will be surprised if he is absolutely dislodged. Yes, Nitish Kumar Reddy has done a job. He is a better bowler, but Shivam Dube is a better finisher," Chopra said.

At the moment, it seems Nitish Kumar Reddy is ahead in the pecking order for the sole pace-bowling all-rounder's role. While Chopra did not deny that Reddy is the superior bowler, he ranked Dube above the Sunrisers Hyderabad star in terms of finishing skills.

"What you want from a player is something that might eventually decide your selection. But for that, we must also understand the thought process. Nitish will give you the overs, but Dube will finish games. World Cup finals, Asian Games, Asia Cup-those are the places where Shivam Dube has come into his own. I am in no hurry to write him off," Chopra asserted.

As Hardik Pandya continues to face lengthy spells on the sidelines, Team India has been aggressively looking to groom Nitish Kumar Reddy as a pace-bowling all-rounder across formats. The management's eagerness to give Reddy more opportunities has undoubtedly cost Dube a regular spot in the team. 

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