AUS vs IND 2025: Shivam Dube credits Morkel, Gambhir, Suryakumar for improved T20I bowling

Shivam Dube has acknowledged inputs from bowling coach Morne Morkel, head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Suryakumar Yadav after his two-wicket performance in the fourth T20I of the five-match series against Australia. India eventually won by 48 runs at the Carrara Oval to take an unassailable 2-1 lead in the series.

Dube picked up the wickets of Mitchell Marsh (30 off 24) and Tim David (14 off 9). In the first innings, he had played an 18-ball 22-run knock after being promoted up the order to bat at No. 3. His knock comprised one four and one six. Before crediting the trio for his outing, Dube acknowledged that the total the Men in Blue put up was adequate at the venue owing to the strength and skills the bowling attack possess.

“167 on this ground is definitely a good score because of the quality of bowling we have, the spinners and the fast bowlers. I trust them and the whole team trusts our bowlers. 167 on this ground was definitely a good score because of the quality of bowling we have. When I got the chance, I knew that I had to bowl, especially Morne, Gauti bhai and Surya prepared a good plan for me. Morne also helped me a lot. He gave some small, small tips which made my bowling better,” stated Dube at the post-match press conference, as quoted by Sportstar.

The all-rounder noted that the bowling unit’s plan was simple. He conceded that their main aim was to bowl in such areas which would force the opposition batters to hit towards the longer square boundaries rather than targeting to hit straight. 

“Definitely, it’s a T20 game and any of the batters can come and smack, but on this ground, where the side boundaries are big, we had planned it very nicely and we had confidence that we can stop them. The plan was to bowl on the sides which have bigger boundaries because it is difficult to hit big. I think the boundaries were 80-metres plus. We knew it wouldn’t be easy to hit. The plan was to bowl smartly and when a batter is set, force him to hit on the bigger sides than the small sides,” he added.

India bowled the hosts out for 119 in 18.2 overs to set up a big win. They will now take on the Mitchell Marsh-led side in the final match of the white-ball series. The fifth and final encounter of the series is scheduled to be played at the Gabba in Brisbane on Saturday, November 8.