Shivam Dube Hits One of the Fastest T20I Fifties
Shivam Dube produced a late assault that stood out despite India’s loss to New Zealand in the fourth T20I at Vizag. The all-rounder smashed a 15-ball half-century, the third-fastest T20I fifty by an Indian men’s player. The knock underlined his role as a finisher ahead of the T20 World Cup starting 7th February.
India were chasing 216 and the top order had slipped early. Abhishek Sharma fell for a first-ball duck, slicing to Devon Conway at deep third. In-form skipper Suryakumar Yadav also got out in single digits. At the end of 11 overs, India were 87 for 5, with the required rate climbing to 14.33.
Dube walked in at No. 6 and changed the momentum instantly. He was on 12 off 6 balls at the start of the 12th over. By the end of it, he had raced to 40 off 12. Ish Sodhi bowled in his arc and paid the price. Dube hit 2, 4, 6, 4, 6, 6 in the over, all clean strikes.
Shivam Dube Joins India’s Fastest T20I Fifties List
| PLAYER | DELIVERIES |
| Yuvraj Singh | 12 balls vs England, 2007 |
| Abhishek Sharma | 14 balls vs New Zealand, 2026 |
| Shivam Dube | 15 balls vs New Zealand, 2026 |
| Hardik Pandya | 16 balls vs South Africa, 2025 |
| Abhishek Sharma | 17 balls vs England, 2025 |
In that over, Dube also equalled Rohit Sharma for the third-most runs scored by an Indian in a single T20I over. Both have now scored 28 runs in an over. Sanju Samson sits second with 30 runs, while Yuvraj Singh leads the list with 36 runs, achieved against England in 2007 when he hit 6 sixes in an over.
Dube survived an lbw call against Jacob Duffy when replays showed an inside edge onto his boot. He then hit Duffy for two more sixes to bring up his fifty off 15 balls. He fell on the last ball of the 15th over finishing on 65 off 23 where he scored 36 off 9 against spin and 29 off 14 against pace. India’s chase soon fizzled out after his dismissal.Â
Dube’s innings was the biggest positive in a 50-run defeat. Captain Suryakumar Yadav later said the team combination was chosen with an eye on the 2026 T20 World Cup where India will be defending their title.
The fifth and final T20I of the series between India and New Zealand will be played in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday, January 31.