Shivam Dube has been an excellent finisher for India in T20Is with the bat. His record speaks for itself, and he has been part of India’s two T20 World Cup wins in 2024 and 2026. He has a stellar record of playing hugely, contributing knocks in must-win games for India.
Overall, Dube has 1178 runs in 82 T20Is, with a strike rate of 149.87 and six fifties to his name. He played a huge role in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 win, with a clutch knock in the final. However, his last T20I for India came against the West Indies at home, and he has been benched for the first three T20Is of the ongoing New Zealand series. Let’s have a look at why Dube might find himself on the Team India bench for a long time in T20Is.
Here are the 3 reasons why Shivam Dube could find it tough to make it to India’s XI in T20Is:
3. Uncertainty over his bowling
While Shivam Dube is classified as an all-rounder, the lanky Mumbaikar is seldom used with the ball in T20Is. Though he has 40 wickets to his name with a best bowling figure of 3/4, his economy rate of 9.96 keeps him from being bowled regularly. He also bowls at a medium-fast pace and often gets hit for sixes by batters in crucial situations.
2. Competition with Nitish Kumar Reddy
Shivam Dube has found huge competition in Nitish Kumar Reddy in T20Is. Reddy bowls faster than Dube and has a similar hitting ability with the long handle. Nitish Reddy is an excellent fielder and faster between the wickets than Dube, with the Indian team management leaning towards the Hyderabadi more than Dube. Dube will need to do something big and noteworthy to reclaim his spot in the Indian XI.
1. Better options
The inclusion of Naman Dhir has hurt Shivam Dube more than competition from Nitish Kumar Reddy. Dhir, in the recent T20I series against the West Indies and in the ongoing New Zealand T20Is, has shown the uncanny knack of hitting big shots from the first ball he faces. He also bowls off-spin and is an excellent fielder anywhere in the field. Dube, not bowling much, has found a new competitor in Dhir, who can hit big shots against both spin and pace and will now have to work hard to regain his place in the Indian XI.
