India vs Afghanistan: Shivam Dube says T20 World Cup 'definitely in my mind', but focus currently on Indore T20I

India all-rounder Shivam Dube emphasised on the importance of this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) in helping teams prepare for the T20 World Cup that takes place in the Caribbean and the United States right after.

India are set to play just two more T20Is this year in the build-up to the World Cup which takes place in June, making the 17th edition of the cash-rich league a crucial one as far as their selection and planning for the mega event is concerned.

The Chennai Super Kings all-rounder, who played a starring role in India’s six-wicket victory over Afghanistan in Mohali on Thursday, also admitted that the T20 World Cup was playing on his mind but he is choosing to focus on the task at hand.

Read | Dube reveals how Rohit inspired him to produce match-winning performance in Mohali

“It (IPL) would be equally important for all of us, as there are only two T20Is remaining. IPL is a big platform, and if you fare well in it, you get the chance to make it to the (national) team,” Dube told reporters ahead of the second T20I against Afghanistan in Indore.

“There is a team planning and combination in place. The more we play T20s, the more we get to understand it better.”

While Dube also remains in contention to make it to the Indian side for the T20 World Cup, he said he is not looking too far ahead and is focused on the task at hand.

“Any player playing in the team aims to play in the World Cup. It’s definitely in my mind to play the World Cup, but it’s far away. Right now, I am aiming to play tomorrow’s game and take it on a match-by-match basis.

“It was a good performance in the last game, and the aim would be to better it in the next game, contributing across departments and helping the side win,” he added.

Read | ‘Fearless’ Dube steps out of comfort zone to make case for T20 World Cup

Dube’s performance was the highlight of the opening clash in Mohali, where he contributed with the ball with figures of one for nine, followed by a match-winning knock of 40-ball 60 not out, earning him the Man of the Match award.

Although India were struggling at 28 for two when he arrived at the crease while chasing a target of 159, he revealed that he planned to stick to what he could do by utilising his skills.

“It’s difficult when things don’t go your way, and you don’t think about things you cannot do at that time. So, I thought about what I have done in the past would be better. I have practised and processed to be better both physically and mentally, besides working on my skills.”

Afghanistan is a tough team when it comes to T20Is

Although Afghanistan is ranked 10th in the shortest format in the world, the abundance of exposure its players have got over the last few years due to domestic T20 leagues has made it a formidable side.

“Afghanistan is a tough team when it comes to T20Is as all of its players play in (domestic T20) leagues. It’s a good opportunity for the side to express itself in front of a top team (like India), and it has been doing well,” he said.

“Afghanistan was not a top side in international cricket a few years back. But, thanks to these leagues its players have come out on top nowadays.”

The wicket at the Holkar Stadium is generally batting-friendly, with two of the three T20Is here being won by the sides batting first, whereas the average batting-first score is 209.

While Dube admitted that bowling would be difficult on this pitch, he felt that the team that bowls better can win.

“It’s a batting-friendly wicket. So, it would be tough for the bowlers. But, the team that bowls well on this track is likely to emerge victorious,” he signed off.

With inputs from PTI