Shivam Dube Blasts 15-Ball Fifty in Vizag; Falls for 65 After Record-Breaking Blitz

Visakhapatnam, Jan 28: Amidst a daunting run chase at the ACA-VDCA Stadium, Shivam Dube reignited India's hopes with a breath-taking display of power-hitting.

Chasing a massive target of 216 against New Zealand in the fourth T20I on Wednesday (January 28), Dube entered the record books by smashing a half-century in just 15 balls.

Shivam Dube Joins Elite Club

Dube's whirlwind knock now stands as the third-fastest T20I fifty for India. He narrowly missed the second spot held by Abhishek Sharma, who achieved a 14-ball milestone in the previous game of this very series.

The legendary Yuvraj Singh continues to lead the pack with his iconic 12-ball effort against England in 2007. Dube's innings was characterized by clean strikes and brute force, particularly targeting the arc between

long-on and mid-wicket, providing the Vizag crowd with a spectacle of boundary-hitting.

He was eventually dismissed for 65 off 23 balls in an unlucky fashion when he was run out at the non-striker's end as the shot hit by Harshit Rana but the ball brushed Matt Henry's fingers before crashing into the stumps. Dube - who was way outside the crease - had to walk back disappointed.

India's Uphill Battle, Dube Stands Tall

The chase began on a disastrous note for the Men in Blue. Opener Abhishek Sharma fell for a golden duck on the first ball of the innings, and captain Suryakumar Yadav (8) followed quickly after a couple of boundaries, leaving India reeling within the Powerplay.

While Sanju Samson showed intent with a quick-fire 24 off 15 deliveries, India's momentum was repeatedly broken by regular wickets. Hardik Pandya struggled to get going, departing for just 2, and Rinku Singh played a steadying hand with 39 off 30 balls.

Despite the collapses around him, Dube remained undeterred, taking the attack to the Kiwi bowlers and keeping the required run rate within reach during his stay at the crease. But soon after his departure, the hosts' hopes were dashed. The left-handed Mumbai batter's explosive knock earned him a spot among the most impactful power-hitting performances in Indian cricket history.

Scoring at a staggering strike rate of 282.60, Dube now holds the third-highest strike rate for an Indian batter in a T20I innings (minimum 50 runs). He trails only Yuvraj Singh, whose legendary 362.50 strike rate against England in 2007 remains the gold standard, and Abhishek Sharma, who recently set a blistering pace of 340.00 against New Zealand in Guwahati.

India suffer big defeat in Vizag

Despite Shivam Dube's historic fireworks, the Indian run chase ultimately faltered as the team was bundled out for 165 runs in pursuit of the 216-run target, losing the game by 50 runs.

The defeat in Visakhapatnam marks a significant dent in the series for the Men in Blue, as the batting lineup failed to sustain the momentum.