Shivam Dube is one of the most lethal ball-strikers in India, especially against spin. In fact, this was his USP during CSK's title-winning run in IPL 2023 that catapaulted him to fame and inevitably, to international cricket. Dube, though, had never produced a blitzkrieg befitting his IPL reputation in international cricket, until January 28, 2026.
During the fourth T20I against New Zealand in Vizag, Dube went berserk to smash his way to a 15-ball fifty. 29 of those runs came off an Ish Sodhi over that Dube took to the cleaners. The veteran leg spinner was hammered for three sixes and two fours in the over as Dube reversed some pressure on New Zealand after India's first five wickets had fallen quite cheaply.
That 29-run over was the biggest for India in the history of India-New Zealand T20Is and with it, Dube completed a unique double role record in international cricket. The biggest over conceded by India in India-New Zealand T20Is also involves Dube, 34 runs that he conceded back in 2020 at Mount Maunganaui.
Dube's blitz was the only real positive in India's innings that saw a couple of starts from Rinku Singh (39 off 30) and Sanju Samson (24 off 14) but neither of them could bat deeper into the chase. With a big target of 216 to chase, it was only a matter of keeping wickets in hand but India had lost too many too early in the chase.
Also, the fact that India were a batter short in Vizag only compounded their misery in the run chase. However, Dube's batting form would have come as a welcome bonus for the defending champions who are trying to iron out any chinks that could potentially hurt them in the tournament.
Dube looked ominous in his 23-ball 65 before being dismissed run out at the non-striker's end, courtesy a deflection on the followthrough from Matt Henry.