“I was not thinking about getting 50 in 15 balls” - Shivam Dube after almost taking the game away from New Zealand in 4th T20I

Indian all-rounder Shivam Dube has opened up on his exceptional knock in the fourth T20I against New Zealand. However, the all-rounder couldn’t propel the hosts over the winning line as they suffered a 50-run loss.

Speaking after the game, Dube asserted that he was focusing on every ball and trying to play them on merit, adding that he doesn’t have any targets of hitting a 15-ball fifty as such. Interestingly, Dube reached his half-century in only 15 balls, raising India’s hopes for a brief period of time in the 216-run chase.

"I was focusing on every ball and trying to play it on merit. I was not thinking about getting 50 in 15 balls or whatever,” Shivam Dube said after the game.

"I am getting better with my mindset because I am playing all those matches now. I know how bowlers are going to come at me. In bowling, thanks to Gauti bhai and Surya, they have given me the opportunity. When you bowl, you become little smart. I am trying to develop some more skills,” he added.

"Teams upgrade themselves. For me also, it is very important. I can't be the same that I was. I try to be little better and smarter in the next game," he noted.

"There was no game plan at that time. There was some instinct from my side. I thought it was difficult to hit spinners. He was bowling well. But, I knew that even he is little scared. He is going bowl me a bad ball. I was ready for that. I wanted to dominate at that time and that is what I did,” he concluded.

Chasing 216 runs, Dube came out to bat at 63/4 in 8.4 overs. He went on to score 65 runs in 23 balls with three fours and seven sixes at a strike rate of 282.61. However, his knock wasn’t enough for India to win the game as they eventually suffered a 50-run defeat.

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