Star India all-rounder Shivam Dube has said that his Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni had advised that he does not need to hoick every short-pitched delivery for a six, and he can instead just be content
with a boundary or even a single, advice that helped him deal with the short ball.
Early in his career, Dube found the short-pitched delivery a persistent challenge, but a key piece of advice from Dhoni sparked a brilliant transformation, helping him evolve into the prolific all-rounder he is today.
Speaking in a post-match chat with the host broadcasters, Dube revealed how a suggestion from Dhoni altered his mindset. He explained that when a batter struggles against a particular ball, there is often a belief that the only way to overcome it is by smashing it for a six.
“There was a time when I came to IPL, I was struggling a bit against short balls, at that time I wasn’t able to hit them so cleanly, but then I realised that if I have to dominate at this level and I have that power, then why should I lag because of one thing, so I worked a lot on that thing during the off season,” Dube said while speaking on Star Sports.
“Mahi bhai had told me that it isn’t necessary that you have to hit a six on that ball, you can hit a boundary or take a single, so that thing was always in my mind that when I come in at the start,” Dube added.
The star Indian allrounder and Dhoni have shared the Chennai Super Kings dressing room since 2022, forging a bond that remains strong to this day. While Dhoni’s illustrious playing career may be nearing its final chapter, Dube continues to scale new heights as one of India’s leading all-rounders.
