India cricket team star Jasprit Bumrah heaped praise on Shivam Dube’s cameo for easing the pressure on the side in their run-chase against West Indies in their final Super 8 fixture on Sunday. The Men in Blue clinched a 5-wicket win the must-win encounter, with Sanju Samson leading the charge with a 97-run knock which helped the co-hosts seal a spot in the T20 World Cup semi-final. Following the contest, Bumrah pointed out that Dube’s cameo was instrumental in ensuring that India’s run-chase did not become tricky towards the end.
Shivam Dube’s heroics ‘turning point’ for India
Speaking on JioHotstar following India’s win, Bumrah noted that Dube had struck a couple of boundaries in the 19th over off Shamar Joseph that helped ease the pressure on India in the run-chase of 196 runs. Coming in to bat after Hardik Pandya’s dismissal, the CSK middle-order batter struck two fours in the penultimate over, which ensured that India needed just 7 runs in the final over.
“You know, obviously, the two fours that Dube hit, it is in the cricketing books and stats, nobody will really appreciate that, but the people who really know cricket, the two fours really didn’t set the pressure on us because sometimes 8-9 runs in the last over, it can get tricky sometimes,” Bumrah said.
Undoubtedly, Samson was the hero in India’s highest successful run-chase in a T20 World Cup with his unbeaten 97-run knock. The Kerala keeper-batter saw India through the finish line, finishing off in style with a boundary, followed by an animated yet grateful celebration by pointing at the heavens and doing the sign of a cross. Bumrah said that he was really happy for Samson, who had seen a lot of ups and downs in the recent past, including a string of poor scores apart from losing his role as the opener.
“Unreal. I’m really happy for him because, you know in the recent last month he’s had a little bit of an up and down journey. To keep a good mindset, sometimes being in and out, it can be difficult for you as a cricketer. You want stability, you can sometimes question yourself, but come this day with the conviction that he had, he was absolutely clear, really, really, happy for him, top knock. Hopefully, he continues to do this and goes from strength to strength,” Bumrah added.
Cricket
BCCI announces India's next series after T20 World Cup as Rohit-Kohli's comeback date locked
