'I WAS STRUGGLING': Shivam Dube finally speaks out on poor form in T20 World Cup for Team India

Coming off a successful IPL 2024 campaign, fans thought that the T20 World Cup would be a cakewalk for Shivam Dube. But the all-rounder seemingly struggled as he played for India at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium. Dube was in the Playing Xi for all three matches, and his woes were visible in the first two of them. The all-rounder eventually found his pace against the US and helped forge a vital partnership with Suryakumar Yadav to aid the team clinch a Super 8 spot.

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The Nassau County were befuddling, says all-rounder Shivam Dube

Big-hitting all-rounder Shivam Dube, who is used to batting on belters in India, said that he was so confused by the two-paced tracks for the T20 World Cup matches here that it felt like he was playing a Ranji Trophy match.

"I was struggling with my form and focusing on my process. But here, there was no pressure. All the support staff and coaches backed me and told me, 'It's difficult, but you have the ability to hit sixes, so apply it.' "I've never doubted myself for what I've done in the past. I just think that these conditions do not demand what I've done at CSK. These conditions require a different approach, so I was batting differently today.

"It felt like (playing) Ranji Trophy. I don't think in white ball. Conditions dictate how you want to play here. You have to choose your best shot to hit a six. Today, I was waiting for that opportunity. It's not easy to come here and start hitting from ball one; you have to take your time," he admitted.

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With a 35-ball 31 in the seven-wicket victory over a spirited USA team on Wednesday, the Chennai Super Kings player found his form again and helped India advance to the Super Eight round of the tournament. With the Super Eight games, the World Cup would relocate to the West Indies in its entirety.

For Team India, the Nassau County Tracks will be a certain lesson as it did not allow any favour to the batters as they struggled throughout all the matches they had in New York. But the roads will become challenging as they will now face the powerhouse cricketing teams who have been wreaking havoc in other groups.