Thanks to MS Dhoni, Shivam Dube no longer ducks and defends short balls | Cricket News

Chennai Super Kings batting coach Mike Hussey is in awe of Shivam Dube as he no longer ducks or defends against short balls, an improvement that the former captain Also personally monitored by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the talisman of the team. The 30-year-old Dube was CSK’s top scorer on Tuesday with a 23-ball 51, including two fours and five sixes, at a strike rate of 221.74. The team defeated the Gujarat Titans by 63 runs.

“High praise has to be given to Dube for his relentless work with the short ball, which is an area where he needs to improve. Hats off to him, he is playing with confidence now. He is dangerous against spin as well.”

“A few years ago, when teams bowled him the short ball, he would just duck and defend. Now, not only does he play the short ball, but he can also find boundaries.”

“So, it’s a testament to the hard work he puts in and giving it back to the bowlers, forcing them to try new things. It will benefit him in the IPL and it will give him a chance if he gets a chance to play for his country. He brings a lot to the table,” Hussey said.

Dube’s captain Ruturaj Gaikwad revealed after the match that Dube’s improvement had a lot to do with Dhoni personally working with the strong Mumbai man.

The short ball has been a weakness of his early in his career, but Dube has handled it well this season.

“Just the confidence. When he came here, the management worked with him personally, Mahi bhai worked with him personally. He knows what role he is playing and which bowler he is playing. That is a big advantage for us,” Gaikwad hailed his big bat as a game-changer.

Dube also spoke about the freedom given to him by the CSK leadership and that he has struggled to be ready for the short ball and is now allowed a few bouncers per over.

“This team (CSK) is different from other teams. They gave me freedom. They want me to do better and I also want to win some games,” Dube said after receiving the Man of the Match award. .

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)