T20 World Cup 2026: ‘In the cricketing books & stats, nobody will really appreciate’ – Jasprit Bumrah gives special mention to Shivam Dube’s cameo in IND vs WI

T20 World Cup 2026: Shivam Dube (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah heaped praise on all-rounder Shivam Dube for his match-defining cameo that proved decisive in India’s tense Super Eight contest win over the West Indies in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Sunday, March 01.

While the chase was masterfully anchored by Sanju Samson’s unbeaten 97, it was Dube’s brief yet impactful stay at the crease that shifted the momentum at a crucial juncture. The Men in Blue found themselves in a tight spot when experienced Hardik Pandya got out at a crucial stage, leaving the hosts needing 17 runs off 10 deliveries.

Walking in under immense pressure, Dube wasted no time in counter-attacking, scoring two boundaries in his first three deliveries he faced. The left-hander flicked a low full toss towards mid-wicket for a boundary off the very first ball he faced. Attempting a similar stroke on the next ball, he timed it well but found the fielder at backward point. However, the southpaw executed the shot perfectly on the third delivery, piercing the gap on the off side to bring the equation down to nine off seven.

Speaking to ICC presenter and his wife Sanjana Ganesan, Bumrah underlined how those two boundaries eased the mounting pressure on the home side.

“The 2 fours that [Shivam] Dube hit – in the cricketing books & stats, nobody will really appreciate that but the people who really knows cricket, those two fours really didn’t let the pressure on us for the final over,” said Bumrah on Dube while speaking to ICC after the match.

Watch the video of Bumrah praising Shivam Dube here

The premier Indian pacer highlighted that the timing of those boundaries played a pivotal role, not just for the batters in the middle, but also for the dressing room watching anxiously. The Ahmedabad-born cricketer also reserved special praise for Samson, who remained unbeaten on 97 and was deservedly adjudged the Player of the Match. The Kerala batter’s composed knock ensured India crossed the finishing line in a last-over thriller.

The Men in Blue will now face the English challenge in the second semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on March 05.

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