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Chennai Super Kings (Source: AFP)
India's tour of Zimbabwe 2026 began on July 23 with a three-match T20I series at the Harare Sports Club. The series will be the first assignment for Shreyas Iyer's side after their recent tour of England.
Ahead of the IND vs ZIM 2026 series, one of the CSK star player has found himself under intense pressure following a string of underwhelming performances.
Why Shivam Dube Is Under Pressure Ahead Of Zimbabwe Series?
Shivam Dube's performances during India's tour of UK failed to meet expectations. Across the white-ball leg of the tour, he managed only 130 runs in seven matches at an average of 21.66 while taking five wickets.
The T20I series was especially difficult for Shivam Dube. He made an impressive start in the opening game by smashing an unbeaten 42 off just 21 balls. However, he could not maintain that momentum.
Also Read: Make Or Break for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi? Indian Players On Thin Ice In Zimbabwe 2026
The ODI series brought little improvement. Shivam Dube did not get a chance to bat in the opening match but claimed one wicket. In the second ODI, he was dismissed for a duck and finished with figures of 1/32 before losing his place for the final game.
Apart from his batting and bowling struggles, his fielding has also come under criticism.
Kris Srikkanth's Strong Criticism Of Shivam Dube
The Chennai cricket legend believes the CSK all-rounder has not done enough in recent matches to justify his selection, especially with several younger players waiting for an opportunity.
According to Kris Srikkanth, modern cricket demands excellence in every department, and fielding has become just as important as batting and bowling.
He argued that Dube has not contributed enough in the field and believes there are several young IPL performers who deserve a chance in the national side.
"What kind of luck does he have? He never gets dropped. Even if there is thunder or lightning, Shivam Dube will always be there. Batting and bowling alone doesn't make a cricketer. Fielding is a very important aspect in the game today. If you take fielding into account, Dube gets zero. So on what basis does he continue getting picked? There are so many other young players that have done well in the IPL."
Why The India Tour Of Zimbabwe 2026 Is Important For Shivam Dube?
The series against Zimbabwe could be one of the biggest opportunities for Shivam Dube. With Hardik Pandya and Nitish Kumar Reddy unavailable due to injuries, India need a reliable pace-bowling all-rounder, and Dube has been given the chance to prove he deserves that role.
The three T20Is offer him the perfect stage to regain confidence with the bat, improve his bowling performances and perform for the team in absence of Hardik and Nitish Reddy.
Another disappointing series, however, could strengthen calls for selectors to look at another all-round option.
Also Read: Shreyas Iyer Breaks MS Dhoni's Record Of Most Consecutive T20Is Toss Wins
