“They Changed the Final Over”: Star Indian pacer praises Shivam Dube's innings in IND vs WI Super 8 post-match interview

India reached the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup after a five-wicket win over West Indies in the Super 8 match on Sunday. Sanju Samson played a brilliant, unbeaten knock of 97 runs and helped India chase the target of 196 with four balls remaining.

While Samson played the main anchor role, Shivam Dube also made an important contribution. He scored only 8* runs, but his impact with two crucial boundaries played a key role in India’s victory.

Dube has often stepped up in important moments. From scoring 27 runs off 16 balls in the 2024 T20 World Cup final to hitting two important fours in the second-last over against West Indies in the Super 8 match, he has helped India under pressure. Those two boundaries reduced the pressure on Samson in the final over, especially after Hardik Pandya got out in the same over.

Jasprit Bumrah also praised Dube’s two boundaries, saying that although they may not look big in statistics, they played an important role in the match result. Dube continues to contribute in big moments, even when his impact is not always highlighted.

Also read: Watch: Rinku Singh mistakenly walks away with Sanju Samson’s bat during IND vs WI super 8 match

Bumrah Praises Dube for Relieving Pressure in Final Over

The chase looked comfortable for India when they needed 17 runs from the last two overs, with well-set Sanju Samson and finisher Hardik Pandya at the crease. However, the match situation changed slightly when Shamar Joseph dismissed Pandya on the second ball of the over after bowling a dot ball first.

At that stage, India needed 17 runs from 10 balls, and new batter Shivam Dube came to the crease. One mistake could have increased pressure on India in the final over. But Dube played smart cricket. He hit the first ball for a boundary and later struck another on the fifth ball, taking two runs from the last delivery of the over.

Because of Dube’s two important boundaries, India needed only seven runs in the final over. Samson finished the match by hitting a six and a four. In an ICC interview, Jasprit Bumrah praised Dube and said, “The two fours that Dube hit may not look big in the stats, but people who understand cricket know how important they were for the final over.”

India head coach Gautam Gambhiralso praised Dube, saying, “Shivam’s two boundaries are as important as Samson’s 97. Without those shots, the result of the match could have been different.”

India will now face England on March 5 at the Wankhede Stadium. A win in the semi-final will secure a place in the tournament final.