The India national cricket team finished atop Group A in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after a hard-fought 17-run win over the Netherlands in Ahmedabad. The result ensured a perfect group-stage record, but it was Shivam Dube who once again grabbed the spotlight with a mature all-round display that underlined his growing value in India’s T20 setup.

Speaking on Star Sports’ Cricket Live, batting legend Sunil Gavaskar offered detailed insights into Dube’s evolution, while also analysing the impact of Varun Chakaravarthy and the struggles of Abhishek Sharma.

Sunil Gavaskar was particularly impressed with Dube’s expanding range. “Shivam Dube is very difficult to bowl to because he has a wide range of shots,” he observed. The former India captain pointed out that Dube is no longer restricted to targeting mid-wicket and square leg. Instead, he has developed the ability to clear long-off and long-on with authority.

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Gavaskar also highlighted one technical area that could make Dube even more dangerous. “If he works hard on developing the inside-out shot over extra cover, he will become a really scary batter,” he said.

According to Sunil Gavaskar, that addition would allow Dube to access every pocket of the ground, making him almost impossible to contain. He added that the way Dube is “maturing with every innings” is extremely encouraging for India heading into the Super 8 stage. On the bowling front, Gavaskar reserved special praise for Varun Chakaravarthy, who returned figures of three for 14 in four overs.

“When you take wickets, you also take away runs from the opposition,” he explained, emphasising how crucial Varun’s spell was in controlling the middle overs. Gavaskar believes India will rely heavily on Varun’s four overs in the next phase and is curious to see how stronger teams attempt to counter him.

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Meanwhile, Abhishek Sharma’s lean run remains a concern. Yet to score in three innings, the explosive opener is clearly feeling the weight of expectations. Gavaskar advised patience at the crease, urging him to focus on getting off the mark first rather than forcing big shots. In tournament cricket, a single can sometimes change everything.