Shivam Dube is a good mixture of class and power. He plays fearlessly and likes to clear the boundary. He's tricky with the ball in hand too.?
Dube has done well in domestic cricket and is on the radar of IPL franchises when he hit five sixes in an over against Baroda.
Since then, he has battled a lower back injury but back in action.?
After going wicketless in the first two T20Is against Bangladesh, Dube struck crucial blows for returns of 3/30 in four overs to help India clinch the series 2-1 in Nagpur earlier this month.
The big-hitting Dube, touted as a game-changer India's looking for ahead of the T20 World Cup to be held in Australia next year, is geared up to showcase his abilities against world T20 champions West Indies when the first of the three-match T20I series begins at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here on Friday.
Fronting up to the media, Dube exuded confidence. "They (Windies) have a good T20 side. But we have prepared nicely. India is the best team in the world and we are going to win the series," he said.
Dube came into the side for the Bangladesh series in place of an injured Hardik Pandya and was happy to play a part in India's success.
Pandya has been out of the team for more than a month due to a back injury that needed surgery, and the cricketer is now in rehab.
"I don't think it's an opportunity to replace Hardik," he said and added, "I was offered a chance and I will try my best to do well for the country."
An all-rounder's job is arduous, especially with the demands on fitness it entails. "Being an all-rounder is a very difficult job. It's important for me to improve my fitness levels. It's a tough ask, but I will go for that," he said.
Dube was equally confident of his bowling as much as he is of his big hitting ability. "I'm very confident about my bowling. It's a T20 game. For bowlers it can be a good or bad game. I've prepared myself to face all situations."