• Source:JND
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IND vs AFG, 2nd T20I: Shivam Dube once again impressed with the bat as he played a remarkable match-winning knock of 63 runs in just 32 balls against Afghanistan.

India defeated Afghanistan by six wickets in the second T20I match at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore on Sunday, January 14 with the hosts taking a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Dube smashed his half-century in just 22 balls, his second of the series and went on to remain unbeaten, that too for the second time as the Men in Blue chased down the 173-run target.

 

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Following his match-winning knock, Dube took nothing away from his Chennai Super Kings franchise and skipper MS Dhoni as he believes that their contribution has been massive in reviving his career.

He went on to mention that the senior members of the Super Kings, including captain MS Dhoni and coach Stephen Fleming, played a major role in boosting his confidence.

"This credit goes to the CSK team and Mahi bhai. I always had the game, but what CSK do is take out that game from a player. So, they have given me that confidence. They told me that I could score runs in IPL and that they believed in me. The likes of Hussey and Fleming said they had faith in me and that I could do what they wanted," Dube said after the match.

 

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"When I was with CSK, he (MS Dhoni) told me that I had the capability to bat well. But he told me to be smart. So, I focussed on my limitations and what I could do well," he added.

Making his T20I debut way back in 2019, Dube couldn't impress much before getting dropped from the side and just when it looked like everything falling apart he joined Dhoni-led CSK for the IPL 2022 season.

After attempting to settle at the franchise with 289 runs in 11 matches in his first season in 2022, Dube capitalised incredibly in the 2023 season with his big-hitting ability.

Dube scored 418 runs in 16 matches on the back of three fifties as he helped his team clinch their fifth IPL title.

His hitting ability was brilliantly used by Dhoni as the star all-rounder ended up being one of the top six hitters in the season with 35 maximums to his name.

A successful IPL season saw him making his return in the shortest format.

Dube had played a match-winning knock of unbeaten 60 runs in 40 balls in the first match as well in Mohali.

After the match, Dube credited CSK captain Dhoni for his finishing knock on his T20I return.

"I have been waiting for a long time for an opportunity to play. I was keeping myself ready so that I was prepared to take the chance that came along. When I came to bat, I wanted to implement what I have learnt from MS Dhoni about finishing games,” Dube had said after the first match.

“I keep speaking to Mahi bhai. He tells me how to tackle different situations. He has given me two, three tips and rated my batting. So, I feel if he rates my batting then I’ll keep playing well. My confidence went up because of that," he added.