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Shastri expects big-hitting Dube to play a key role for India at T20 World Cup

NEW DELHI, – Former India coach Ravi Shastri expects big-hitting Shivam Dube to set the T20 World Cup alight and says the 30-year-old batting all-rounder will be key to India’s hopes of racking up big totals in the tournament next month. Shastri expects big-hitting Dube to play a key role for India at T20 World Cup Dube, who is also a handy medium pacer, has established himself as one of the most destructive middle-order batters in the IPL, the Chennai Super Kings player scoring 350 runs in 11 matches at a 170-plus strike rate this season. Among the IPL’s Indian batters, only Abhishek Sharma has hit more sixes than Dube’s 26. “Please watch out for , because he is explosive, he’s devastating and he’s a match-winner,” Shastri told the International Cricket Council website. “He hits sixes for fun, and when it comes to spin bowling, he can kill you.” Shastri said that while the left-handed batter is particularly effective against spinners he had nailed down his batting approach against pace. “He’s understood the way to play and I think he holds the key at that number five-six position because if you’re in the doldrums, you want someone to change it in 20-25 balls, he’s the player to go to,” he added. The strike rate of India’s top order, which includes skipper Rohit Sharma and stalwart Virat Kohli, has been something of a concern and a fiery middle-order could be crucial to India’s hopes of winning a second T20 World Cup title. Shastri has high hopes for opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and said the presence of Dube in the middle order could help India post the big totals needed to win a major tournament. “His strike rate, which will be close to 200 most of the time, will help India immensely in going forward, getting those 190s, 200s that are needed in big competitions, especially like the World Cup,” he added. India will also be encouraged by Suryakumar Yadav’s form heading into the World Cup after his 51-ball hundred secured victory for the Mumbai Indians against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday. Suryakumar, the top-ranked batter in T20 internationals, is playing his first tournament since recovering from an ankle injury and a sports hernia operation.

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'Will park few balls out of Long Island...': Rohit, Kohli ignored as Shastri picks 2 players key to India’s T20WC hopes

‘Will park few balls out of Long Island…’: Rohit, Kohli ignored as Shastri picks 2 players key to India’s T20WC hopes

With less than a month’s time left before India kicked off their T20 World Cup campaign in New York against Ireland on June 5, former India head coach Ravi Shastri picked two players who will play a key role in the side’s title hopes. And it’s neither Virat Kohli nor captain Rohit Sharma who will likely play their final T20I appearance at the tournament. Shastri instead picked two left-handed batters who are all set to make a debut in a multi-nation ICC tournament for India – Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube. Ravi Shastri picks 2 players key to India’s T20 World Cup hopes Jaiswal has stated success recently after smashing a record tally of runs in the Test series against England at home earlier this year, which is part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship series. However, he has been a force to reckon with in the shortest format as well, where he amassed 502 runs in just 16 innings for India since his debut in mid-2023, which comprises a century and four fifties. “The two gentlemen you’ve got to watch out for, and both are left-handers, both playing their first World Cup,” Shastri told ICC. “One is [Yashasvi] Jaiswal. We know a lot about him, he did extremely well against England, explosive at the top of the order, left-hander, he’s young, he’s fearless and he’ll play shots.” ‘Watch out for Shivam Dube’: Ravi Shastri The other player that Shastri picked is Chennai Super Kings star Dube, who cracked 26 sixes in just 11 matches in the ongoing IPL 2024 season. The left-hander earned his spot in the Indian T20 World Cup squad on the back of a stellar show in the T20 league in 2023 and 2024, along with his two back-to-back fifties for India in the home T20I contest against Afghanistan earlier in January. “But there’s someone in the middle order, please watch out for [him], because he is explosive, he’s devastating and he’s a match-winner. He hits sixes for fun, and when it comes to spin bowling, he can kill you,” Shastri said. “He’ll park a few balls out of Long Island into the small island, he’s that kind of a player. He hits it big, he hits it long, and like I said, against spin, he could kill you. “Even against the fast bowlers, he’s worked out his game, he’s understood the way to play and I think he holds the key at that number five, number six position because if you’re on the doldrums, you want someone to change it in 20-25 balls, he’s the player to go to.” Shastri was effusive in his praise for the tall all-rounder saying that he could be the key to unlocking big totals for India in the T20 World Cup. Dube has struck at a rate of 170.73 in this ongoing IPL season, while scoring a boundary in almost four deliveries. “His strike rate, which will be close to 200 most of the time, will help India immensely in going forward, getting those 190s, 200s that are needed in big competitions, especially like the [T20] World Cup. So enjoy it, watch out for this left-hander — he’s big, he’s strapping, and he hits a long ball.”

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'Got to watch out for...': Ravi Shastri picks these two stars as India's key to T20 World Cup success | Cricket News

‘Got to watch out for…’: Ravi Shastri picks these two stars as India’s key to T20 World Cup success | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: Former head coach Ravi Shastri has identified two debutants, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube, as pivotal to India’s aspirations in the upcoming Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, to be held in the Caribbean and the USA in June.Both players have been included in India’s 15-member squad for the tournament, with Shastri highlighting their potential to make a significant impact on the team’s performance.Jaiswal showcased his exceptional batting prowess during the ICC World Test Championship series against England, amassing a record tally of runs, thereby earning his place in the T20 squad. Meanwhile, Dube’s explosive batting displays in the ongoing IPL, where he has smashed 26 sixes in 11 matches, underscore his current form and the potential value he brings to the Indian team.As India gears up for the T20 World Cup campaign, the inclusion of Jaiswal and Dube adds depth and firepower to the squad, with Shastri expressing confidence in their ability to deliver match-winning performances on the global stage.“The two gentlemen you’ve got to watch out for, and both are left-handers, both playing their first World Cup,” Shastri told ICC.“One is (Yashasvi) Jaiswal. We know a lot about him, he did extremely well against England, explosive at the top of the order, left-hander, he’s young, he’s fearless and he’ll play shots.”Shastri went on to pick Dube as another player to watch out for from the Indian squad.“But there’s someone in the middle order, please watch out for (him), because he is explosive, he’s devastating and he’s a match-winner. He hits sixes for fun, and when it comes to spin bowling, he can kill you,” Shastri said.“He’ll park a few balls out of Long Island into the small island, he’s that kind of a player. He hits it big, he hits it long, and like I said, against spin, he could kill you.“Even against the fast bowlers, he’s worked out his game, he’s understood the way to play and I think he holds the key at that number five, number six position because if you’re on the doldrums, you want someone to change it in 20-25 balls, he’s the player to go to.”Dube’s impressive performances in IPL 2024 have been characterised by his exceptional strike rate of 170.73, coupled with an impressive batting average of over 40. In 11 IPL matches this year, Dube has amassed a total of 350 runs, showcasing his ability to consistently contribute with the bat at a rapid pace.The left-hander was singled out for huge praise by Shastri, who thinks that Dube’s big-hitting could unlock big totals for India in the competition.“His strike rate, which will be close to 200 most of the time, will help India immensely in going forward, getting those 190s, 200s that are needed in big competitions, especially like the (T20) World Cup.“So enjoy it, watch out for this left-hander — he’s big, he’s strapping, and he hits a long ball.”(With IANS inputs)

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He can kill spinners: Ravi Shastri backs ‘explosive’ Shivam Dube before T20 World Cup 2024

He can kill spinners: Ravi Shastri backs ‘explosive’ Shivam Dube before T20 World Cup 2024

Ravi Shastri picked Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shivam Dube as the Indian cricketers to watch out for in the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and United States of America (USA). After performing exceptionally in the T20Is against Afghanistan, Dube showed his class for CSK in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Dube has earned praise for his ability to take apart quality spinners. Shastri also backed Jaiswal, lauding him for his wholehearted performance against England in the 5-match Test series. After a poor start to his campaign in the IPL, Jaiswal returned to form with a sparkling hundred against MI at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. “The two gentlemen you’ve got to watch out for, and both are left-handers, both playing their first World Cup. One is [Yashasvi] Jaiswal. We know a lot about him, he did extremely well against England, explosive at the top of the order, a left-hander, he’s young, he’s fearless, and he’ll play shots,” Shastri told ICC. Dube has been in prime form, having scored 350 runs from 11 games at an average of 43.75 and a strike-rate of 170.73. The fact that he has hit 26 sixes shows how dominating he has been. “But there’s someone in the middle order, please watch out for [him], because he is explosive, he’s devastating and he’s a match-winner. He hits sixes for fun, and when it comes to spin bowling, he can kill you,” Shastri said. ‘Shivam Dube holds the key’ While Dube has garnered accolades for playing spin-bowling effectively, the southpaw has also found a way to dictate terms to the fast bowlers. Shastri said that Dube can turn matches on their head with his power-hitting in the death overs. “Even against the fast bowlers, he’s worked out his game, he’s understood the way to play, and I think he holds the key at that number five, number six position, because if you’re on the doldrums, you want someone to change it in 20-25 balls, he’s the player to go to,” Shastri added. Published By: sabyasachi chowdhury Published On: May 6, 2024 Tune In

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Ball boy over the moon as Jonty Rhodes applauds his stunning catch behind the fence. Watch | Cricket News

Ball boy over the moon as Jonty Rhodes applauds his stunning catch behind the fence. Watch | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: In a delightful and heartwarming incident, a ball boy got the applause from none other than fielding great Jonty Rhodes during the IPL clash between Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders at the Ekana on Sunday.As the ball boy took a superb catch behind the third-man fence, Rhodes alongside the on-air commentators was quick to praise the special effort from the young talent.The incident took place in the third over of Lucknow’s chase when Marcus Stoinis executed an upper-cut off Vaibhav Arora to perfection. As there was no KKR fielder at the fence, the ball boy, who was sitting on the sidelines, instantly got up and moved towards the ball. He then superbly judged the ball, got under it and completed the catch effortlessly.Soon after completing a fine catch, the boy found an admirer in Rhodes as he lauded the catch from the dug-out.On seeing himself at the giant screen and Rhodes applause following him, the boy was over the moon, in a moment of a lifetime incident. Earlier, Sunil Narine continued his explosive run this season with a blistering 81 off 38 balls, propelling KKR to 235 for six against the hosts.Proving his worth with the willow once again, the West Indian went on a six-hitting spree, blasting seven maximums and six fours.The in-form Narine, who was dropped twice in the space of two balls, smoked five boundaries in five balls, setting the tone for the KKR innings.

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