Shivam Dube keen to cash in on good IPL show

Karnatak Sporting Association’s Shivam Dube at Sachin Tendulkar Gymkhana, Kandivli yesterday. Pic/Anurag Ahire

Rajasthan Royals' all-rounder Shivam Dube continued his IPL form in club cricket, helping Karnatak Sporting Association (KSA) beat Bhatnagar Sports and Cultural Foundation (BSCF) by 66 runs in their last league match of the Padmakar Talim Shield at the Sachin Tendulkar Gymkhana in Kandivli on Friday.

Dube's 41-ball 69 (7x4, 4x6) and Ramanpreet Singh's 51 (7x4, 1x6) helped KSA post 200-7 in the allotted 20 overs. In reply, BSCF were bowled out for 134 in 19.1 overs thanks to some disciplined bowling by medium pacers Dube (3-21), Aishwarya Surve (2-11) and left-arm spinner Vinayak Bhoir (2-20). Dube, 28, is currently working on improving his pace and variation and believes that club cricket is the best place to do so. However, he is not satisfied with his performance at IPL-14, where he scored 230 runs in nine games.

"I don't think any player can be satisfied with his performances. I may be performing well or not so well, but you always need something more. So, I'm not satisfied with what I have done. I want to score more runs, take more wickets and become a good fielder. I am working on all this," Dube told mid-day on Friday.

‘I compete with myself'

When asked what he thought of Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer, who could compete with him for a Team India spot, Dube, who has represented the country in 13 T20Is and one ODI, said: "I don't look at it as competition. Earlier, Hardik [Pandya] was projected by the media as my competitor. But I always compete with myself. I always look to improve and get better. I don't see other all-rounders or other players as competitors. I only see myself as a competitor, no one else." Meanwhile, in another match at MIG CC in Bandra, the hosts beat United Cricketers by 91 runs.

Former India U-19 cricketers, Varun Lavande (102 off 59 balls, 12x4, 4x6) and Atharva Ankolekar (21-ball 45 not out) helped MIG CC post a whopping 239-5 in 20 overs. In reply, United Cricketers were bowled out for 148 in 18.4 overs with MIG's left-arm pacer Irfan Malik (4-6) and off-spinner Ankush Jaiswal (4-26) taking the bulk of the wickets.

Lad stars for Payyade SC

At the Wankhede Stadium, Payyade SC's openers Siddhesh Lad (92 not out off 53 balls, 4x4, 6x6) and Akhil Herwadkar (28-ball 40, 2x4, 2x6) helped their team outclass Young Maharashtra CC by 86 runs. In reply to Payyade SC's 193-4, Young Maharashtra managed just 107-9. Medium pacer Rohan Raje and left-arm spinner Sagar Mishra claimed three and two wickets respectively for the victors.

Elsewhere, hosts and defending champions Parsee Gymkhana beat Shivaji Park Gymkhana (SPG) by 31 runs. Parsee Gym's bowling all-rounder Shams Mulani (31-ball 51 not out), Sachin Yadav (28-ball 38) and Aditya Tare (19-ball 35) were the chief contributors as the team posted 185-7.

Check out all the latest news and updates on IPL 2021