‘Shivam is a much improved player’: Head coach Rahul Dravid on Dube's contributions in the series

India’s Shivam Dube during his 63 not out in the second T20I against Afghanistan at the Holkar Stadium, Indore, recently. Pic/AFP

It took two Super Overs to decide the outcome of the final Twenty20 International on Wednesday night, India quelling a spirited challenge from Afghanistan to complete a 3-0 sweep at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. It was the first bilateral series between the sides and while it was memorable for many reasons, the one man who must have derived the greatest satisfaction is Shivam Dube.

The ‘forgotten' hero - Dube didn't play a single international between February 2020 and August 2023 - didn't make a special impact in the last game, but he had done enough in the two previous outings with his powerful ball-striking to take home the Player of the Series award (he scored a 40-ball 60 not out in the first T20I and an unbeaten 32-ball 63 in the second). Along the way, with his penchant for taking down spinners of all ilk, he has provided another option for the team management in the run-in to the World Cup, in North America in June.

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Rahul Dravid

"[I am] Happy for him [Dube] because he's come back after a long time. He's certainly very much an improved player," head coach Rahul Dravid said, acknowledging the 30-year-old's contributions.

"There's no doubt he always had the talent, but the way he performed in the series will give him a lot of confidence. He has certainly put his hand up and said: ‘Look, here I am, and these are the skills I possess and if you're looking for something like that, then you know I've got this ability.' He's going to have that opportunity to show it in the IPL again, like he did last year as well. He's got some really good ability in the middle overs against spin and also with the ball."

After three series in the last three months, against Australia at home in November-December, in South Africa last month and now this, India won't play a 20-over international until the World Cup. But there won't be a paucity of T20 games, with the IPL running from March to May.

"We've had different kinds of people play after the last ODI World Cup," Dravid observed.

"We've mixed around quite a few of the players, quite a lot of different players have played because of a variety of reasons. It's nice to see that there are some options that have put their hand up, and certainly shown that they've got skills to address. Unfortunately, we really won't have much cricket as a team anymore. We will obviously have the IPL and everyone will be watching closely to see how some of those guys play and what are the slots we need to fill in the team."

The IPL should also facilitate the comebacks from injury of the last two individuals to lead India in T20Is before this series, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, while there is also the prospect of a return to action of Rishabh Pant, the effervescent wicketkeeper-batsman who has been out of the game since his horrendous road accident in December 2022.

60' & 63'
Shivam Dube's unbeaten scores in the first two T20Is against Afghanistan