Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has backed Shivam Dube and pushed back against the criticism aimed at the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder for the team’s three consecutive poor seasons. Dube’s IPL 2026 season numbers read: 270 runs in 12 innings at 38.57 and a strike rate of 158.82, with 15 sixes, after 396 runs in 2024 and 357 in 2025 as well.

Defending Dube from unjust criticisms on his YouTube channel, R Ashwin said: “There is a reason Shivam Dube is being backed by the franchise and MS Dhoni himself. There are no powerful middle-order Indian left-handers other than him. No one has his power generation with that bat swing. Yes, he has areas where the bowlers can exploit. CSK fans seem to attach their losses to Dube. They must understand that the other players that took the field are just as responsible as him.”

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“His ability is unreal. Just as an example, say KKR give Rinku Singh for Shivam Dube, and Rinku fails next season without being able to read the Chepauk conditions. Then Rinku will face similar heat, and the cycle will go on. So when you are enjoying a player on their best days, you will also have to accept them on their ordinary and bad days,” he added.

Ravichandran Ashwin’s defence of Shivam Dube extends to two other factors, and neither of them is about Dube’s strike rate as well.

“Most of the games were over when Dube came in to bat last season, and he was up against it. Samson and Gaikwad did not click as a pair, and Mhatre played only six matches. So Dube did not get the launchpad. Because of a collective failure, CSK could not use the ideal entry point for Dube and couldn’t give him clarity,” said Ashwin. “Many are also asking why he is not bowling for CSK. One must remember that it is not his job to ask for a ball. He has not been used. A bowler that India uses isn’t being used by his franchise.”