“Shivam Dube strongly reminds me of Yuvraj Singh”: R Ashwin

Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has thrown his support behind all-rounder Shivam Dube for a spot in the upcoming T20 World Cup squad. Dube’s remarkable performance against Afghanistan has caught the attention of the cricketing world, leading Ashwin to compare him to a “Yuvraj Singh lite” package.

Dube, who made his debut for India in 2019, faced a setback when he was dropped from the squad after the T20I series in South Africa. However, he made a triumphant return in the series against Afghanistan, showcasing his prowess with both bat and ball. Batting at No. 4, Dube played a pivotal role in India’s 3-0 series win, earning him the Player of the Series accolade.

Impressed with Dube’s performance, Ashwin expressed his confidence in Dube’s potential contribution to the Indian squad in the T20 World Cup. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin drew parallels between Dube’s career phases with Jesus Christ.

“Hardik Pandya plays a vital role for the Indian team. Yet, Shivam Dube’s rise is noteworthy. Comparing his career phases to CSK is like dividing time into ‘before Christ’ and ‘after Christ.’ In West Indies, similar to CSK conditions, he excels as a spin-hitting powerhouse,” he said.

Describing Dube as a “spin-hitting monster,” Ashwin further likened his batting style to that of Yuvraj Singh, emphasizing his ability to take on spinners.

“I proudly call him a ‘Yuvraj Singh lite’ package. Numerous aspects of his game, such as the downswing, height, and reach, resonate with Yuvraj Singh. I’m not asserting he’s identical to Yuvraj Singh, but he strongly reminds me of him. The beauty lies in his ability to hit spin straight down the ground,” he added.

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