Shivam Dube has credited bowling coach Morne Morkel for his improved performance after India's dominant victory over the United Arab Emirates in their Asia Cup 2025 opener. Dube's impressive spell of 3/4 helped India dismiss the UAE for a mere 57 runs, paving the way for a comfortable nine-wicket win. This performance highlighted Dube's growing role as a genuine all-rounder for the Indian team.
Dube acknowledged Morkel's influence, stating that the coach has been working closely with him since his return to the Indian team during the England series. He revealed that Morkel provided specific advice that he diligently worked on. This guidance included fine-tuning his line and length, developing a slower delivery, and making slight adjustments to his run-up. Dube specifically mentioned that Morkel advised him to bowl a line slightly outside the off-stump.
The positive influence of head coach Gautam Gambhir was also highlighted by Dube. Dube said that Gambhir has instilled in him the importance of treating every game for India as a chance to achieve something remarkable. He emphasized that whether the opponent is Pakistan, the UAE, or any other team, each match holds equal significance and is a matter of pride when wearing the national jersey.
Dube's performance against the UAE showcased his disciplined bowling and ability to take wickets in the middle overs. His accuracy in line and length, coupled with his pace variations, proved difficult for the UAE batsmen to handle. Kuldeep Yadav also played a crucial role, taking 4/7 and contributing to the UAE's collapse. The UAE lost their last eight wickets for just 10 runs.
Shivam Dube has also been focusing on his fitness and batting skills over the past two months. He is aware of his role in the middle overs and has been working on expanding his range of shots to counter bowlers who target him with short balls. Dube also spoke about adapting to different conditions as the tournament progresses, recognizing that slower balls will become more effective as the wickets become slower.
Following his performance, comparisons were drawn between Dube and Hardik Pandya, another pace-bowling all-rounder known for his variations. However, Dube downplayed these comparisons, emphasizing that Pandya is like a brother from whom he learns a lot, given Pandya's extensive experience in both IPL and international cricket. Dube stated that his focus is on learning as much as he can from Pandya's vast experience.
Looking ahead, India will face Pakistan in their next Asia Cup match. Dube said he would approach the highly anticipated fixture with the same mindset, adhering to Gautam Gambhir's advice of treating every game as an opportunity to do something great for the country. India's dominant win against the UAE has set an early marker in the tournament, demonstrating their strength and depth.
