IND vs NZ 2026: ‘Ultra pro specialist’ – Ex-India opener hails Shivam Dube for batting exploits despite Vizag loss

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel lauded Shivam Dube for his impact after the all-rounder produced a blistering knock in the fourth T20I against New Zealand in Visakhapatnam. Although India went down by 50 runs, Dube’s innings emerged as the standout performance of the match, reinforcing his increasing importance in the T20 setup.

Dube smashed a breathtaking half-century in just 15 deliveries, the third-fastest T20I fifty by an Indian at a time when the team was struggling to build momentum and had faced an early collapse as well. The Mumbai cricketer’s counter-attacking approach briefly turned the contest on its head and offered a glimpse of the firepower he brings to India’s middle order heading into the T20 World Cup 2026.

Speaking about Dube’s evolution as a batter, Parthiv highlighted how the left-hander has addressed a key technical weakness that once limited his effectiveness against pace bowling.

“Two years ago, in 2023-2024, fast bowlers used short-pitched balls to get Shivam Dube out because that was his weakness. He would get dismissed quite often against the seamers but that weakness is gone. He has improved a lot and has performed consistently for India. T20 is a format for specialists, and Shivam Dube is an ultra-pro specialist. When spinners come on, he bats in the middle and terrorises them with big shots,” Parthiv said via JioStar.

In this match, he destroyed the New Zealand bowlers, not just spinners, but fast bowlers too, using his hook shots well. The time he spent batting in the middle is a big positive for India heading into the T20 World Cup. But Shivam hasn’t surprised anyone. We know his potential, and he is more than capable of such knocks. He proved his doubters wrong by hitting the third fastest T20I fifty by an Indian, in just 15 balls,” he added.

Dube arrived at the crease with India struggling at 63-4, and the pursuit was fast losing shape. He then unleashed a ferocious counter-attack, blasting 65 off just 23 deliveries, including seven sixes and three fours, hauling India to 145-6 and delaying the inevitable by a few overs to show some real fight in the competition.

Even though the BlackCaps went on to register a comfortable win, Dube’s knock emerged as a significant positive for the hosts. His knack for handling pressure and instantly accelerating the scoring has become a hallmark of his T20 approach, particularly in the middle overs, a phase where the Men in Blue have frequently struggled to maintain momentum.

The ongoing five-match series against New Zealand has further underlined Dube’s impact. Across three innings, he has scored 110 runs at a staggering strike rate of 244.44, clearing the ropes a total of eleven times. In addition to his batting exploits, Dube has contributed with the ball as well, picking up three wickets at an average of 19.66.