Former Indian spinner and commentator Ravi Ashwin has revealed the key reasons behind Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and MS Dhoni backing Shivam Dube for the forthcoming IPL 2027 season.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin asserted that there are no powerful middle-order Indian left-handers other than Shivam Dube at the moment, which prompted CSK to back him for one more season.
Further, Ashwin urged CSK fans to support Dube in his bad days the same way they support him during his good days, giving an example of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) finisher Rinku Singh.
“There is a reason Shivam Dube is being backed by the franchise and MS Dhoni himself. There are no powerful middle-order Indian left-handers other than him. No one has his power generation with that bat swing. Yes, he has areas where the bowlers can exploit. CSK fans seem to attach their losses to Dube. They must understand that the other players that took the field are just as responsible as him,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
“His ability is unreal. Just as an example, say KKR give Rinku Singh for Shivam Dube, and Rinku fails next season without being able to read the Chepauk conditions. Then Rinku will face similar heat, and the cycle will go on. So when you are enjoying a player on their best days, you will also have to accept them on their ordinary and bad days,” he added.
“Many are also asking why he is not bowling for CSK. One must remember that it is not his job to ask for a ball. He has not been used. A bowler that India uses isn’t being used by his franchise,” he concluded.
In the IPL 2026 season, Dube scored 270 runs in 12 innings at an average of 38.57 and a strike rate of 158.82 with 15 sixes. However, he had better seasons in IPL 2024 and 2025, scoring 396 and 357, respectively.
