Last Updated on 10 months by Charbel Coorey

Cricket News: Wasim Jaffer and Tom Moody believe India must pick Shivam Dube in their T20 World Cup squad

Shivam Dube produced yet another gem of an innings in the Indian Premier League (IPL), this time taking apart the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium. Dube finished with 66* off just 38 balls to help propel Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to a mammoth total, which in the end proved too much for the hosts.

What was most impressive about Dube’s innings is MI did their homework. Aware of his prowess against spin, Hardik Pandya implemented pace against Dube, but it did little to keep him quiet. The left-hander smashed 65 of his runs against pace at a strike rate of 175.7, helping to push CSK from 80/2 at the halfway mark to 206/4.

Shivam Dube showed he is ready for the T20 World Cup – Jaffer and Moody

Dube’s strokeplay against pace impressed Wasim Jaffer. Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out, the former batsman said such an innings shows his development as a T20 player.

“I think he answered those questions on whether he should be in the World Cup squad,” Jaffer said. “And in the World Cup, you’re not going to get an impact bowler [impact substitute], so spin is going to be bowled against him.

“Today, they [MI] bowled according to the matchup,” Jaffer continued. “They didn’t give him any spin, but he still went ahead and scored at such a good strike rate. That shows he is getting better at playing pace and scoring as well.

“It was wonderful to watch him bat today.”

Tom Moody echoed Jaffer’s thoughts. He believes Dube’s clarity of role has been the key to his success.

“He’s [Dube] has found his home where he can really be himself and thrive against feeling like he’s playing for his spot every time he walks out to bat,” Moody said.

“It also comes with maturity. A lot of players do mature a little bit later than others. He is a serious impact batter out of the middle order, and today he confirmed again that he needs to be in the Caribbean there’s no question of that.”

CSK’s 20-run win over MI cemented their spot in the top four. What was also impressive about the performance is that Dube didn’t even win player of the match, with that award going to the talented Matheesha Pathirana for his superb 4/28.

Next up for CSK is a trip to Lucknow to face the Super Giants on Friday. MI, who are now sitting precariously in eighth place with two wins and four losses, travel to Mullanpur to play Punjab Kings on Thursday.