Shivam Dube bowling in Zimbabwe (Source: AP Photos)
Shivam Dube played an influential role in India’s T20 World Cup 2026, making 235 runs at a superb strike rate of almost 170 to help the Men in Blue win the whole damn thing.
Still, just because he was majorly consistent with the bat instead of being the one to rise above the rest on a single occasion, he did not get the limelight he truly deserved.
Rather, they wrote songs about Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan. Even Abhishek Sharma, who only had a half-century in the final and failed miserably throughout the competition, was more frequently part of the appreciation, but not Dube.
The Rise Of Shivam Dube
To look back, Dube’s T20 World Cup scores read 16-ball 23, 17-ball 27, 31-ball 66, 37-ball 42, 4-ball 8 not out, 25-ball 43 and 8-ball 26 not out (in the final). Yes, he scored a golden duck against the USA, his only failure in the entire competition.
Even greats do have one bad day when they are at the peak of their powers. Dube, on the other hand, had little expectation to deliver before the T20 World Cup 2026 began.
However, Dube was questionably expensive while bowling during the T20 World Cup 2026.
Opposition
Overs
Runs
Wickets
Namibia
2.2
11
1
Netherlands
3
35
2
South Africa
2
32
1
Zimbabwe
2
46
1
England
1
22
0
[Shivam Dube Bowling In T20 World Cup 2026]
Dube Much-Better & Far-Effective Bowler Now
However, Dube has been extremely handy with the ball in hand for India post the T20 World Cup 2026. He was with the Team India squad in Ireland and England for white-ball tours, and on almost every occasion, he did more than decently whenever he was asked to roll his arms.
Opposition
Overs
Runs
Wickets
Ireland (T20I)
6
36
3
England (T20I)
3
18
2
England (ODI)
12
59
2
[Shivam Dube Bowling Stats Post T20 World Cup, As Of July 24, 2026]
Moreover, he kept doing wonderful things in Zimbabwe on Thursday as well. There in Harare, during the first T20I of the three-match series, he was asked to bowl all four overs.
And he did his job quite well, conceding 32 runs off his four overs while picking up perhaps the most important wicket of all available, Sikandar Raza.
To add more value, he took a catch as well and effected a run-out, playing significantly to help India to win by seven wickets.
Conclusion
Besides, let’s not forget that Hardik Pandya hurt his left ankle in the middle of the ODI World Cup 2023. With the next edition to be held mainly in South Africa, along with Namibia and Zimbabwe, Hardik’s availability will be far more critical for India’s success.
On top of that, the way Dube has been re-emerging of late, don’t be surprised if the BCCI think tank decides to have two fast-bowling all-rounders in India's playing XI in the World Cup 2027. Provided that South African conditions traditionally suit fast bowlers and Dube can bring a late flurry with the bat.
Then India can use both Hardik and Dube, or Dube alone if Hardik or Harshit Rana are unavailable for unforeseen circumstances. That would power them to the elusive 50-over glory, something they last tasted in 2011 and tried so hard and got so far in 2023, only to suffer a heartbreak in the final against Australia during the last edition.
Shivam Dube bowling in Zimbabwe (Source: AP Photos)
