MS Dhoni played a major role in helping Shivam Dube succeed, reveals Ruturaj Gaikwad | IPL 2024

Shivam Dube has worked on his weakness against short-ball quite well and it has a lot to do with Mahendra Singh Dhoni personally working with the beefy Mumbai man, said Chennai Super Kings skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad on Tuesday.

Dube played a key role as CSK beat Gujarat Titans by 63 runs in an IPL game here.

The left-handed batter smashed five sixes in his 23-ball 51 after his 34 not out in the opening victory against RCB and the most notable feature in his game is how he is managing the shortball.

Early in his career, short ball had become his shortcoming but this season a transformed Dube has managed it well even when he looks a bit uncomfortable.

"Just confidence. When he came here the management worked with him personally, Mahi bhai worked with him personally. He knows what role he is playing and which bowler to take on. A big plus for us," Gaikwad praised his big-hitting game-changer.

Dube also spoke about the freedom that CSK leadership has given him and he has worked hard to remain prepared for the short balls, now that couple of bouncers are allowed per over.

"This franchise (CSK) is something different from all others. They are giving me the freedom. They want me to do better and I also want to win some matches," Dube said after winning 'Player of the Match' award.

It is not just survival but Dube has also attacked short balls in these two games like never before, albeit with mixed results.

"I have worked in that way. It is helping me. I know they will bowl me some short balls and I am ready for that." He also maintained that the team management has advised him to do the same thing match after match -- that is to take on the bowlers.

"They want me to do the same thing I did today. They want me to score with a higher strike-rate and that is what I'm doing." For his skipper, Tuesday's win was a result of a near-flawless performance.

"Today's game was near to perfect game, in the sense of batting-bowling-fielding, all three departments. Against a team like Gujarat, we had to produce this kind of performance," Gaikwad said.