 "Manjrekar questions Dube's promotion as India fail to reach 170 against Bangladesh in Asia Cup: 'Makes no sense'")
Cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar questioned the Indian team’s decision to promote all-rounder Shivam Dube to No 3 in their Asia Cup Super 4s match against Bangladesh on Wednesday after the Men in Blue suffered a dramatic collapse in the middle overs, and failed to breach the 170-mark in the end.
LIVE | India vs Bangladesh, Asia Cup Super 4s match in Dubai
India had shifted gears in style during the powerplay after they were invited to bat by stand-in Bangladesh captain Jaker Ali, racing to 72 for no loss at the end of the powerplay after collecting just 17 runs in the first three overs. Abhishek Sharma led the way after getting dropped on 7, racing to a 25-ball half-century – his second on the trot in the ongoing tournament.
Dube’s promotion raises eyebrows
Bangladesh, however, broke the opening partnership shortly after the powerplay, with vice-captain Shubman Gill holing out to long off off leg-spinner Rishad Hossain’s bowling. And instead of India skipper Suryakumar Yadav walking out to bat at his usual spot after the fall of the first wicket, the Men in Blue raised eyebrows by sending seam-bowling all-rounder Shivam Dube.
What made the move even more surprising was the fact that the move did not even preserve a left-right combination at the centre, with Dube also a left-hander.
“With every batter in this Indian team a phenomenal hitter against both pace & spin makes no sense to send Shivam Dube up the order,” former India batter Manjrekar wrote in a post on X, reacting to the promotion.
You never know who’s making those decisions. I think someone’s getting restless inside, and is feeling a bit of FOMO," Manjrekar later said on Sony Sports Network during the innings break. “That change may have affected the flow a little bit, but the fielding played the bigger role.”
While Dube has been handy with the ball, he did not get too many opportunities to showcase his skills with the bat – scoring an unbeaten 10 in the group match against Pakistan before getting dismissed for 5 in the dead rubber against Oman.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe team management might have wanted the Chennai Super Kings all-rounder to get some time at at the centre before the final. The match against Bangladesh, however, takes place at a time when India have not secured their place in the final yet. And a loss against the Bangla Tigers could put them in a must-win situation against Sri Lanka on Friday.
That indeed turned out to be the case, with Dube getting dismissed for just 2 off three balls, departing shortly after Gill’s dismissal. That would mark the beginning of a slide in the middle overs, with India collecting just 63 runs between overs 7 to 16 after smashing 72 runs in the powerplay.
Dube’s wasn’t the only questionable promotion – spin-bowling all-rounder Axar Patel was sent ahead of wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, and could manage just 10 off 15 deliveries as India finished on 168/6 at the end of their innings.
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