CSK win 5th IPL: With Jaddu bhai and others around, I knew we can win, says Shivam Dube

Though opener Devon Conway (25-ball 47) was adjudged player of the IPL final in Chennai Super Kings's (CSK) five-wicket win over defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, it was Mumbai lad Shivam Dube (21-ball 32 not out, 2x6), who shouldered the responsibility perfectly to help CSK win their fifth IPL title.

While chasing a revised target of 171 in 15 overs, CSK lost their best finisher, skipper MS Dhoni (0) off the very first ball he faced, in the 13th over. However, Shivam Dube, who was at the non-striker's end, revealed that he was confident of new batsman Ravindra Jadeja's (6-ball 15 not out) ability to hit big sixes.

Ravindra Jadeja is ecstatic after hitting the winning runs in the final against GT on Monday

Dhoni's departure

The departure of Dhoni was not lost on Dube. "Mahi bhai is obviously the team's main finisher. But he had told me that I have that spark and I can win games for CSK. I had the belief in my ability as well as trusted the other players who were batting with me. ‘We can win this final', I told myself.

"I was 100 per cent positive and confident that Jaddu bhai will win the game for us by hitting two sixes in those last couple of deliveries. But he hit one six and a four to win the IPL title," Dube told mid-day on Monday, when asked what was going through his mind when Dhoni got out and Jadeja had to face the last two balls of the match.

CSK players celebrate with the IPL trophy

In such a high-pressure, rain-interrupted final, Dube reckoned that the belief and confidence given by Dhoni and the CSK management helped Chennai become champions yet again.

"Thanks to the CSK management and Mahi bhai, we did not experience any kind of pressure throughout the tournament. We all knew that we just needed to play our game. We [CSK] were not thinking about the rain or whether the match would go on or no. We all felt that it would be a good match and we would win it. I think all credit goes to Mahi bhai and CSK management for giving us such a beautiful environment and building a good team combination," Dube remarked.

Dube scored 418 runs with a strike rate of 158.33, which included three half-centuries. When asked about what Dhoni told him ahead of the tournament, Dube said: "They just told me that I know my game very well and advised me to play accordingly - not to think too much and play my natural game. Yes, they told me that I need to keep a better run-rate and keep my strike-rate high. I said, ‘okay, no problem.' That was our plan. I was told to be ready to bat at any position and be prepared for any situation.

This is my first IPL trophy. It's a dream for every Indian cricketer to win a trophy for the country and win the IPL trophy. One of my dreams have been fulfilled. This was my best [IPL] season. I'm enjoying it thoroughly."

Dube, 29, who smashed 35 sixes in 16 IPL-16 games, has represented the country in one ODI and 13 T20Is. An international comeback is on his mind. "Obviously, every player wants to play for the Indian team. But I always believe in the process, which Mahi bhai also mentioned to all the players. I am concentrating on the process and if I do better, then surely I will get selected in the Indian team," Dube said.

CSK's other Mumbai stars

Apart from Dube, two other Mumbai boys - batter Ajinkya Rahane (326 runs) and pacer Tushar Deshpande (21 wickets) - played important roles in CSK's triumph. "It feels good that Mumbai players did well and contributed to CSK's win. But when you play for CSK, it hardly matters where you come from and which was your earlier team," Dube signed off.