Suryakumar Addresses the Reason Behind Dube’s Promotion During Super Four Bangladesh Clash

Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav has said that the decision to send Shivam Dube at number 3 was a tactical choice. He revealed that the combination of Bangladesh bowling encouraged them to send Dube earlier. This decision however, backfired in the game, as Dube got out quickly due to Rishad’s smart bowling. The Indian captain still feels that Dube can play a role for them in the future games, should the dynamic match conditions allow that.

“They [Bangladesh] had a left-arm spinner and a leg-spinner, and Dube was the perfect match-up. His entry point (between overs 7-15) was also perfect. It did not go well, but going ahead, we will definitely try doing that,” said Suryakumar Yadav after the match.

It should be noted that Dube generally plays at the 5th or 6th position in the Indian team. He has been given the license to play big shots at the end of the innings. The all-rounder has shown some remarkable performances at that position, which is why India has shown trust in him for quite some time.

The Indian captain also addressed the reason why his team only scored 168 despite getting a brisk start. For the unversed, India were flying in the first 10 overs when Abhishek Sharma was batting. However, when he got out, things became difficult for the incoming batters.

“If the outfield would have been really fast, it would have been 180-185. If we can bowl 12-14 good overs, we can defend any total,” said Suryakumar.

Before today’s game, India had also not batted first in any Super Four match. Suryakumar said that this experience was crucial, as it could help his team in the all-important Asia Cup final. India did feel the pressure while playing first in today’s match, as Bangladesh took quick wickets in the middle and marched back into the game when the men in blue were looking all set to hit 200 on the scoreboard.

“We did not get to bat first in the tournament, and that too in a crucial match. It was important to bat in the Super Four and how we do. The wicket was a little slower in the second innings (in the game on September 14 as well), and that is what happened tonight as well, with no dew, ” said the Indian captain.

Talking about the summary of the match, India batted first and scored 168 at the end of the innings. Their openers once again gave them a quick start, allowing India to assert dominance in the match. However, things became difficult for the men in blue when Abhishek Sharma got out. The incoming batters didn’t find the pitch suitable for hitting, and hence they lost quick wickets.

However, Hardik Pandya’s steady knock in the end allowed India to score a respectable total. They finished with 168 on the board, giving Bangladesh a tough target to chase in the second innings.

When Bangladesh came out to bat, they didn’t look comfortable in the chase. The slow nature of the pitch made things difficult for them, and as a result, they kept losing wickets one after another. In the end, Bangladesh got bowled out after making just 127 runs. They lost the match to India by a big margin, giving them a confirmed spot in the Asia Cup 2025 finals.