India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been out of the game since the ODI World Cup 2023. During the tournament, he got injured and has been missing the game. On the other hand, Shivam Dube who was part of the team during the five-match T20I series against Australia, played a match-winning against Afghanistan on January 11. Notably, Dube didn’t play a single game during the Australia.
Apart from this, the left-hander wasn’t part of the South Africa series. Talking about Pandya, he won’t play in the ongoing series and is expected to participate in the IPL 2024. However, if that doesn’t happen, the team might look towards Dube. Meanwhile, in this listicle, we will discuss three reasons why Dube would be a good backup option for Pandya
Three reasons why Shivam Dube could be a good replacement for Hardik Pandya
1. Helpful conditions in the West Indies
During the T20 World Cup 2024 in the West Indies and USA, India is set to play day games during the tournament, given the difference in the time zones. In some of the games, it is quite likely that some games will be played on dry surfaces. Talking about Dube’s bowling, he can bowl slower balls and can be helpful on these surfaces. On the other hand, he can dominate the spinners with the bat as he does for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.
2. Can provide play as the sixth bowling option
The Men In Blue, after the injury to Pandya, decided to play with only five proper options. They reached the final and lost to Australia. Meanwhile, in the shortest format, going with only five bowlers is a complete no-no. In almost every game, one of the bowlers will travel and there will be a need for a sixth bowling option.
3. Can bat in the number six
The left-hander can bat in the lower middle order just like he does in the IPL. Given Pandya’s absence, the team needs him to play at number six
