"Never compared myself with Yuvraj Singh": Shivam Dube ahead of IPL 2024 clash against PBKS

New Delhi [India], April 30 (ANI): Ahead of the fixture in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Wedneday, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Shivam Dube has said there is no comparison between him and former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh although they have same playing style.
"I have never compared myself to Yuvraj Singh. I have a similar style of playing like him and people often say that I play like him," Dube said in a video posrted by BCCI.
The left-hand batter said when he came to the Indian team, Ravi Shastri told him that he smashes six in the same manner as Yuvraj.
"When I came to the Indian team, Ravi bhai said that you hit sixes just like Yuvraj Singh. I have seen him batting a lot. When he doesn't score in the first 7 to 8 balls, he manages to cover it later in his innings," the 30-year-old player said.
The southpaw further stated that when he came to the Chennai Super Kings teams, MS Dhoni and coach Stephen Fleming helped him a lot and gave him the freedom to play his natural game.
"When I came in CSK, Mahi bhai and Flemming told me to play my natural game. They have never said that start hitting from ball 1 as it is risky...," the batter said.
"I prepared myself mentally. I worked on what shot to play at which ball. It took time to apply this but later it happened eventually, so I think, I am set now. I watch the ball really well. As the ball hits the bat, then I can feel that it has connected really well and that it will go for six," the cricketer added.
The Mumbai-born cricketer spoke about the T20I series which was played against Afghanistan and also about Rohit Sharma's message to him during the series.
"When I played the T20I series against Afghanistan, Rohit bhai said that you will be doing both batting and bowling. So I was focussing on both as I have to express myself," Dube concluded.
Dube is in hard-hitting form this season and he is a key player in CSK's title defence.
In nine matches, Dube has scored 350 runs at an average of 58.03 and a strike rate of 172.41, with two half-centuries. His best score is 66*. Dube is the second-highest scorer for his franchise this season after skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad (447 runs in nine matches). (ANI)