Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has heaped praise on Indian all-rounder Shivam Dube for his explosive batting performance in the fourth T20I against New Zealand at Visakhapatnam. Dube smashed a blistering 14-ball fifty, marking the third-fastest half-century by an Indian batsman in T20 Internationals.
Record-Breaking Innings in Visakhapatnam
During the match held on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at the Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Dube came in to bat at number six and played a crucial knock of 65 runs off just 23 balls. This innings not only helped stabilize India's chase but also secured his fifth half-century in T20Is. Despite India losing the match by 50 runs while chasing a target of 216, Dube's aggressive intent stood out.
Gavaskar's Commendation on Star Sports
In an exclusive conversation on Star Sports, Gavaskar expressed his admiration for Dube's ability to seize the moment. "I thought he grabbed the opportunity really well," Gavaskar remarked. "As you said, when you bat at six or seven, you're probably getting three or four overs with a strong Indian batting line-up. But this time India lost early wickets, and he had to come in sooner."
Gavaskar highlighted Dube's confidence-boosting first-ball six, which he described as one of the longest hits, landing right into the second tier. "When you strike a shot like that early, your confidence soars. He knows that if he connects, the ball is going into the stands because he's got that power, the swing, and the timing," he added. Gavaskar emphasized that Dube's achievement of scoring the third-fastest fifty for India is remarkable, placing him alongside legends like Yuvraj Singh and recent star Abhishek Sharma.
Dube's T20I Career and Impact
Since making his T20I debut in 2019, Shivam Dube has represented India in 54 T20I matches, accumulating 749 runs at an average of 28.80 and a strike rate of 149.20. His knock of 65 runs in Visakhapatnam now stands as his highest score in T20Is. Additionally, Dube has contributed with the ball, taking 26 wickets at an average of 27.23.
In last year's Asia Cup, Dube showcased his all-round abilities by scoring 50 runs and claiming five wickets across six matches, including a crucial 33-run innings in a tense chase against Pakistan in the final. Gavaskar believes that this recent performance will instill in Dube the belief to build innings and finish games under pressure. "The fact that he can also bowl a couple of overs makes him such a valuable player. And having come in earlier, he won't see himself only as a finisher anymore. He'll believe he can build an innings and finish it too, especially in pressure situations," Gavaskar concluded.
Team Strategy and Captain's Perspective
India had won the first three matches of the five-match T20I series before New Zealand's victory in the fourth game. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav explained the team's strategy post-match, stating, "We purposely played six batters. Wanted to have five bowlers and challenge ourselves. We wanted to play the players who were part of the World Cup squad, otherwise we would have played other players."
Yadav further elaborated on the batting approach, "We have been batting well batting first. Wanted us to see how we bat when two or three down while chasing 180-200. With heavy dew, one or two partnerships like Dube batted, one partnership could have made a difference." This strategic move allowed players like Dube to step up and demonstrate their capabilities in challenging conditions.
As the series progresses, Dube's record-breaking knock and Gavaskar's endorsement highlight his growing importance in India's T20I setup, promising exciting prospects for future matches.
