In the high-risk cauldron of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026Shivam Dube has emerged as one of India’s most reliable match-winners. But behind the explosive 31-ball 66 that propelled India to victory against Holland on Wednesday (February 18) lies a story of mentorship, change of mindset and three simple words from the man who has defined cricketing wisdom for a generation: MS Dhoni.
The Indian all-rounder, who was named Man of the Match for his breakthrough performance at the Narendra Modi Stadium, revealed in a post-match conversation that Dhoni’s advice fundamentally altered his approach to tackling short deliveries, a vulnerability that once threatened to derail his international career.
MS Dhoni’s mantra that helped Shivam Dube conquer short balls
Talking to the host stations afterwards India’s 17-run win against NetherlandsDube spoke about the crucial conversation that transformed his batting philosophy. When struggling against short balls early in his IPL career, Dhoni offered characteristically simple yet profound advice.
“Mahi bhai had told me that you don’t have to hit that ball for a six, you can hit a boundary or take a single, so I always kept that thing in mind when I came into the wicket.” Dube revealed.
This advice – essentially “do not attack the short ball” – went against the natural instincts of a power hitter. Dube admitted that batsmen who struggle against a particular delivery often believe that the only way to beat it is to smash it for a six.
Dube technical trip: From vulnerability to strength
Dube’s struggles against short pitches were well documented early in his career. Despite possessing immense power and being one of the tallest cricketers in the Indian set-up, the left-hander often looked uncomfortable against quality fast bowling in excess of 140 kmph.
“There was a time when I came to the IPL, I was struggling a little bit against the short balls, at that time I couldn’t hit them as cleanly.” Dube remembered. “But then I realized that if I have to dominate at this level and I have that power, then why should I fall behind for one thing, so I worked a lot on that in the offseason.”
The transformation involved extensive firearms practice, but Dube emphasized that the change in mindset proved more crucial than the technical adjustments. The results have been dramatic: his average against short balls improved from 23.5 during the 2021-22 period to 84 in 2023.
The Dhoni-CSK connection: A partnership that transformed Dube’s cricket career
Dube has been a part of the Chennai Super Kings set-up since IPL 2022, forging a bond with Dhoni that remains strong to this day. While Dhoni’s illustrious playing career may be nearing its final chapter, his mentorship continues to pay dividends for Indian cricket.
“This credit goes to Chennai Super Kings and Mahi bhai because I always had this game in me.” Dube had earlier said during the Afghanistan series in 2024. “They’ve brought out the best in me. They’ve always encouraged me and said they believe in me. Stephen Fleming and Mike Hussey have shown faith in me.”
The willingness of the CSK think tank to promote Dube in the batting order and back him despite initial struggles created an environment where they could implement Dhoni’s advice without fear of failure.
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Dube delivers winning performance against Netherlands in T20 World Cup 2026
The wisdom of Dhoni’s advice was fully evident during India’s final group match against the Netherlands. Coming in with India struggling at 74 for 3 after 10 overs, Dube started slowly, scoring just six runs in his first 11 deliveries and even surviving a close lbw call.
Instead of panicking or trying to dominate immediately, he stayed patient, rotated the attack and waited for scoring opportunities, exactly as Dhoni had advised. The approach paid spectacular dividends as he then targeted the spinners and took advantage of predictable changes of pace.
Dube’s half-century came off just 25 balls, with four boundaries and six sixes. Along with Hardik Pandya, he put up a crucial stand of 119 runs in the last 10 overs, with India scoring 75 runs in the last five overs alone. He finally fell in the 19th over for 66 off 31 balls, but the damage had already been done.
To complete a memorable performance, Dube also contributed figures of 2 for 35 with the ball, further denting Holland’s chase.
Also READ: Fans react as India complete flawless group stage of T20 World Cup 2026 after Shivam Dube stars against Netherlands
