Shivam Dube impressed everyone in India’s Asia Cup 2025 opening match against the UAE. The medium pacer returned with three wickets as he filled in as the third pacer. However, former India opening batter Sadagopan Ramesh believes that the all-rounder needs to keep showing consistent performances if he is to instil belief within the management that he can be trusted with the ball.
In the Group A fixture against the UAE, India went in with just one frontline pacer, Jasprit Bumrah, while Hardik Pandya and Dube filled in as the other two options. Dube then returned with a spell of 3/4 in two overs, dismissing Asif Khan, Dhruv Parashar and Junaid Siddique.
However, Ramesh is not pleased with Gautam Gambhir and the rest of the management’s decision to go with Dube as the third seam-bowling option. He says anyone can bowl well against an opposition like the UAE, and his true test will come later on when India faces stronger opposition.
“There was a time when Hardik Pandya was our third seamer in T20s. Now, if Shivam Dube is your third seamer, the graph is heading down there itself. Yes, he bowled well yesterday, but it was against a side anyone can bowl well against,” Ramesh said on his YouTube channel.
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“Going forward, against decent sides, this could become a challenge. They are preferring Shivam Dube over Rinku Singh only because of the bowling and the third seaming option. It is clear that the management has consistently shown faith in Shivam Dube. It’s a good thing, but it remains to be seen if he repays the trust,” he added.
Sanju Samson’s place
The UAE were bundled out for the lowest-ever T20I score against India, after being all-out for 57 in 13.1 overs as Kuldeep Yadav took four wickets. India then chased the total down with nine wickets in hand and 93 balls to spare.
In the contest against the UAE, India went in with Sanju Samson in the middle order, and he was slotted into bat at No.5. Ramesh is not a fan of this theory as he questioned the move and intentions behind it.
“Shubman Gill has started opening and Sanju Samson has been pushed down the order. One starts questioning if Sanju Samson is slowly being pushed out. Yes, we can say he’s going to play at No. 4 or 5,” said Ramesh.
“But in T20 cricket, there is a big difference between batting in the powerplay and batting without the advantage of the powerplay against quality bowling attacks. There is a good chance of Sanju Samson facing challenges in the middle order,” he added.
