IND vs UAE | ‘I was preparing for this for long time’, Dube after impressive spell in Asia Cup opener

‌Shivam Dube was the unlikely hero with the ball for India as they started their Asia Cup T20 2025 campaign with a thumping nine-wicket win over the United Arab Emirates in Dubai on Wednesday. He picked up three wickets for just four runs in two overs to help the defending champions bundle out the UAE for just 57 runs before the Men in Blue romped home inside five overs. Dube emphasised that he was waiting for this opportunity for a long time, and both the captain and the coach were confident in his bowling abilities.

"The captain and the coach told me earlier that I will bowl [at the Asia Cup] and that they are confident about me," Dube said at the press conference. "My bowling coach (Morne Morkel) has told me a lot of things. I was preparing for this for a long time, so that I would get an opportunity to bowl, and when it comes, I'll be ready. What happened today is because of that preparation."

Dube has remained underutilised as a bowler ever since the impact substitute rule made its way to the Indian Premier League ahead of the 2023 season. The Chennai Super Kings star has bowled just three overs in two matches out of the total 44 games he has been part of since the introduction of the impact player rule. However, he reiterated that he always prepared and was ready to bowl every single match.

"The scheme of an allrounder has been reduced. Because of that, in the IPL, there wasn't a necessity for me to bowl,” he replied to a query on the much-debated rule. “But, from my side, I was always prepared. Every match, I was ready to bowl. I was working really hard before the IPL also. I spent two months working on my fitness and bowling.”

"At the England series [in January-February], he (Morkel) told me a few things," Dube said. "He told me to bowl from outside [wider of the crease] and to bowl slower [from a certain angle]. I have been working on that for a long time. He told me a few things about my bowling run-up too. Because of those two or three things, my bowling is getting better. My pace is also improving, and I am getting confidence.”

"Today's start was very important. As an all-rounder, I am always prepared for four overs of bowling. Whenever I get an opportunity to bowl three to four overs, I am ready for it. I will try to do what the team needs."

Despite India’s big win over the UAE, Dube was guarded on questions about their next game against arch-rivals Pakistan. He brushed off questions surrounding the tensions of the high-pressure game, seeing it as another opportunity to do something special for the country.  

"Whether it's Pakistan or the UAE, or whoever I'm playing with in the future, I want to do a miracle on the ground so that I can make my country proud,” he concluded.