In a high stakes pot 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 over the Netherlands on Wednesday (February 18), there is a story of mentorship, change of mind and three simple words from the man who defined cricketing wisdom for a generation: MS Dhoni.
The Indian all-rounder, who was named Player of the Match for his game-changing performance at the Narendra Modi Stadium, revealed in the post-match chat that Dhoni’s advice had fundamentally changed his approach to facing short deliveries – a weakness that once threatened to derail his international career.
MS Dhoni’s mantra that helped Shivam Dubey conquer the short balls
Then he spoke to the leading broadcasters India’s 17 win against NetherlandsDube talked about the crucial conversation that changed his batting philosophy. Struggling with short balls early in his IPL career, Dhoni gave characteristically simple yet insightful advice.
“Mahi bhai told me that you don’t have to hit that ball for a six, you can hit a boundary or a single, so it was always in my mind when I came in at the start.” Dube appeared.
This advice – essentially “Don’t attack the short ball” – ran against the power hitter’s natural instincts. Dube admitted that batsmen struggling with a particular delivery often believe that the only way to overcome it is to hit it for a six.
Dube’s technical journey: From weakness to strength
Dube’s struggles against short deliveries were well documented early in his career. Despite possessing great power and being one of the tallest cricketers in the Indian set-up, the left-hander often looked uneasy with quality bowling at 140 kmph.
“Once when I came to the IPL, I was struggling a bit against the short balls, then I couldn’t hit them cleanly.” Dube recalled. “But then I realized, if I’m supposed to dominate at this level and have that power, why should I be held back by anything, so I worked on that a lot in the offseason.”
The transformation involved extensive experimentation with sidearms, but Dube emphasized that a change in mindset was more important than technical fixes. The results were dramatic—his average against shortstops went from 23.5 in 2021-22 to 84 in 2023.
Dhoni-CSK connection: A partnership that changed Dube’s cricket career
Dube has been part of the Chennai Super Kings set-up since IPL 2022 and has forged a bond with Dhoni that remains strong till date. While Dhoni’s illustrious playing career is 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” Dube had earlier said during the 2024 Afghanistan series. “They brought out the best in me. They always encouraged me and told me they believed in me. Stephen Fleming and Mike Hussey showed me they believed in me.”
The CSK think tank’s willingness to promote Dube in the batting order and support him despite initial struggles created an environment where Dhoni could implement his advice without fear of failure.
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Dube delivers a match-winning performance against Netherlands in T20 World Cup 2026
The wisdom of Dhoni’s advice was on full display in India’s final group stage match against the Netherlands. Dube, who came in with India struggling at 74 for 3 after 10 overs, got off to a slow start, scoring just six runs off his first 11 deliveries and even surviving a close wicket.
Instead of panicking or trying to dominate immediately, he stayed patient, turned the shot and waited for scoring opportunities – just as Dhoni advised. This approach paid spectacular dividends as he targeted spinners and benefited from predictable changes in pace.
Dube’s half-century came off just 25 balls with four boundaries and six sixes. Along with Hardik Pandya, he built a crucial stand of 119 runs in the last 10 overs, with India scoring 75 runs in the last five overs alone. He eventually fell to 19 for 66 off 31 balls, but was injured.
Dube contributed 2 for 35 with the ball, further reducing Holland’s chase to complete a memorable all-round performance.
