IND vs NZ T20 World Cup 2026 Final: India's star all-rounder Shivam Dube said he got back home to Mumbai on a train from Ahmedabad after the summit clash. All flights were already booked. He revealed he wanted to return home as soon as possible to be with his four-year-old son, Aayan, and his two-year-old daughter, Mehwish.
Just a few hours before, he had played a huge role in helping India defeat New Zealand during the summit clash of the recently concluded mega event. Flights were not available on Sunday night, so the explosive batter, along with his wife Anjum and his friend, chose to take an early morning train to Mumbai. He wanted to be with his children as soon as possible. During an interview with The Indian Express, Dube revealed why he decided to travel by train.
“There was no flight available, so I decided to take a train from Ahmedabad early in the morning to Mumbai. We could have gone by road, but the train was faster,” Dube was quoted as saying to the Indian Express.
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My wife and a friend decided to take a train. Third AC tickets were available, so we booked them. Everyone we spoke to was worried—family and friends. What if someone recognised me at the station or inside the train?" he added.
HOW DID DUBE HIDE FROM PUBLIC IN TRAIN?
Travelling in a normal train just a few hours after winning the T20 World Cup title carried its own risks. He knew even one fan spotting him might turn their quiet journey into a fanfare. That’s why he and his wife planned the trip carefully. They hoped nobody would notice them.
He did his best to act like any other passenger travelling on an early morning train.
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“I wore a cap, a mask and a full-sleeved T-shirt. It was a 5:10 a.m. train, so we hoped there would not be many people on the platform,” he added.
Ahmedabad was still celebrating the Men in Blue's T20 World Cup victory. Fans were at the station in Indian jerseys. Dube realised that entering the platform might not be ideal. He decided instead to wait in the car until the last minute.
“So I told my wife that I would wait in the car till five minutes before the train’s departure. After that, I will rush to board the train,” he added.
After he entered the coach, he quickly climbed to the top berth and stayed there for most of the journey. Their train trip went smoothly. However, the thought of getting down at the station in Mumbai in broad daylight worried him.
At night, I got down from the berth. No one recognised me on the way to the washroom or on the way back. The train trip was smooth, but I worried about getting off at Borivali in broad daylight. I couldn’t have escaped attention there,” he added.
As their train neared Mumbai in the aftermath of the World Cup, Dube contacted the police to help manage the crowd that might gather at the station.
"They expected me at the airport but were surprised I was on a train. Police escorted me, making the exit smooth," he said.
HOW WAS SHIVAM DUBE'S T20 WORLD CUP 2026?
Dube played a huge role in India's successful T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. He was guided by head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Suryakumar Yadav. His role was to play as an explosive batter and help stabilise the innings during the death overs.
During the summit clash, against the Mitchell Santner-led side, he hit three fours and two sixes in the last over of the first innings. He helped the team post a mammoth target of more than 250 runs.
He scored 239 runs throughout the mega event. His average was a staggering 39 with a strike rate of 169. He hit 17 sixes and 15 fours, often rising when the team needed him.
His flexibility set him apart at this mega event. He played at four different batting positions as needed.
Sometimes, he came in early to help the team bounce back after a batting collapse. On other days, he arrived late, aiming to smash the ball after seeing it.
Despite having Hardik Pandya in the side, Dube became another finisher for India. When the team needed momentum during the death overs, his aggressive batting helped secure another match-winner.
Criticised after 2024, Dube returned in 2026 with performances showing his improved game.