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Shivam Dube scored 66 off 31 balls and took two wickets as India beat Netherlands by 17 runs within the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, earning Player of the Match.
T20 World Cup: Shivam Dube was the Player of the Match as India defeated Netherlands (AP)
Shivam Dube starred with bat and ball as India defeated the Netherlands by 17 runs within the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
Shivam smashed a 31-ball 66 — his highest in T20Is — after which returned with the ball to select up two wickets, earning the ‘Player of the Match‘ award.
“It was slightly tough, that is the situation I like to bat. I used to be having fun with, although I used to be under pressure,” Shivam Dube said after the win.
‘Knew I’m Gonna Cover Later’
When asked if the conditions were a bit tricky and the pitch a bit sticky, Dube said: “The off-spinner bowled very well to me and 4 dot balls, a superb over from my side, but I knew that I’m gonna cover later.”
“It was skidding in addition to it was keeping low. Certainly one of the balls spun as well. So for me, it was like, yes, I can hit him, but at the moment the situation demands something else. So I even have to play at the moment.”
“I attempted to hit boundaries. I attempt to hit six. I enjoy hitting sixes, however the situation demands the bowler is sweet. I even have to arrange myself to hit boundaries as well,” Dube explained his technique of targeting the straight boundaries.
“I even have worked in that way also, because I do know all of the bowlers, they’re going to dam me as well. They’ll not bowl me yorkers or length balls. They’re going to come back short. They’re going to bowl me slower balls. So I prepared myself, so I used to be waiting for that,” he added.
As for his job with the ball in hand, scalping Bas de Leede and Zach Lion-Cachet, Dube said: “I’m working really hard towards my bowling and yeah, the outcomes are coming, but yes, it’s a T20 game. You’re going to hit, you’ll get hit sometime, but you’ll take wickets as well.”
(With inputs from Agencies)
February 18, 2026, 23:29 IST
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