Shivam Dube will join India’s T20I squad, replacing Nitish Kumar Reddy, who is sidelined from the ongoing five-match series against England with a side strain. Doctors have advised Reddy to rest for four weeks, opening the door for Dube’s return. He will be available for selection from the third T20I onward.
Dube’s last international appearance came during the ODI series in Sri Lanka in August 2024. He missed the subsequent T20I series against Bangladesh due to a back injury. However, he made a strong comeback in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, amassing 151 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 179.76 and taking three wickets at an economy rate of 9.31. In his T20I career, Dube has played 33 matches, scoring 448 runs at a strike rate of 134.93 and claiming 11 wickets. He was also part of India’s T20 World Cup-winning squad in the West Indies and USA last year.
Dube recently played for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy against Jammu and Kashmir. Although his performance in the match was underwhelming—scoring zero in both innings and picking up one wicket—he remains a valuable all-round option for India.
India currently leads the series after a dominant seven-wicket victory in the first T20I in Kolkata, where they chased the target with 43 balls to spare. Reddy, in his lone appearance, took two catches but did not bat or bowl. The second T20I takes place this evening in Chennai. Dube’s inclusion adds depth to the squad as India looks to extend their series lead.
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