Former India batter Robin Uthappa has sparked discussion amid the ongoing ODI series between India and New Zealand by raising concerns about the fitness of India’s all-rounder Shivam Dube in the 50-over format. Uthappa, known for his straight talk and understanding of the game, suggested that while Dube has made strides in his fitness in recent years, he still isn’t “completely ready” for the rigours of ODI cricket.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Uthappa explained that the demands of a full 50-over match require a level of endurance and match fitness that Dube hasn’t quite reached yet, despite improvement in recent years.
“You know, Shivam, I do not think he is fully fit for ODI cricket. I do not think his body can manage the length of an entire match. He is not the quickest guy on the field. That said, I do want to say he has improved. His fitness has improved, his speed has probably gone up by 5 to 10 percent, and his bowling speed has also increased slightly. His running speed, which earlier felt very heavy for an athlete, has improved after working on it,” he said.
“T20 is the most sustainable format for Shivam Dube”
While praising Dube for his improvements in fitness, the former India wicketkeeper-batter believes that the Mumbai all-rounder has reached his full potential in fitness. Lastly, Uthappa also explained the cricketer’s role for the Indian team in the shortest format of the game.
“But I feel he has reached the upper limit of that scale. T20 is sustainable for him. And I think he is a deceptive bowler now. When he comes on to bowl, batters think they need to target him and score runs off him, and in that process, he ends up taking wickets. That is where he gets his wickets,” he concluded.
Despite being a regular in the T20 format for India for the last few years, Shivam never really got going in the 50-over cricket. Since making his ODI debut in 2019, he has only featured in four matches. In T20Is, on the other hand, the Mumbai cricketer has made 50 appearances while also being a member of the T20 World Cup-winning team in 2024.
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