India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel has offered a fresh perspective on the team’s strategy for the Asia Cup 2025. He has highlighted the potential impact of Shivam Dube as a key-all round option. Dube was a part of India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad but he did little to no bowling. He just bowled one over which was against USA. However, under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, it is likely that Dube will play like a full-fledged all-rounder.
Earlier Hardik Pandya has been the most reliable all-rounder for India but now the management also wants Dube to step up and deliver whether it is with bat or ball. Speaking about Dube’s role, Morne Morkel hinted that he is capable of delivering complete four overs and he is being groomed for this.
“For me it’s always important to use Shivam as a guy who can bowl four overs,” Morkel said in the press conference. “I’m always pushing for all-rounders to work hard on both skills. Sometimes guys can get a little naughty in practice and focus on one. But here we want to leave no stone unturned. On the day, conditions might favour him more than somebody else, and he needs to be ready to deliver.”
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“The more guys who can give the captain an over here and there, the better. Yes, we’ll have our frontline bowlers, but those extra options give us flexibility in selection and combinations,” Morkel added.
India will be starting its Asia Cup 2025 campaign against UAE on September 10 in Dubai after which the team will play against Pakistan on September 14. The last match of group stage will be against Oman on September 19 in Abu Dhabi.
