Former India and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin accused the five-time IPL champions of underutilizing Shivam Dube with the ball in the league. Ashwin’s onslaught came after another impressive spell from Shivam Dubey against South Africa in the ongoing five-match T20 series.
Lately, the Men in Blue have been using Dube as the sixth bowling option, and he has been impressive. In the ongoing T20 series against South Africa at home, the Indian fast bowler bowled only three balls and conceded only one run in the first game.
Ravichandran Ashwin criticizes Chennai Super Kings after Shivam Dubey shines with the ball for India
The Chennai Super Kings all-rounder was then sent off for two overs and conceded only 18 runs against South Africa during India’s 51-run defeat in the second T20I at Mullanpur on December 11. Even on the recent Australia tour, Dubey impressed everyone with his bowling in difficult conditions.
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On that tour, two matches were washed out and Dubey got a chance to bowl in two matches and made a significant impact, taking one wicket for 43 runs in three overs in the third T20I and two wickets for 20 runs in the fourth T20I against Australia.
After Dube consistently impressed with the ball for India in T20Is as the sixth bowling option, Ashwin called on CSK to field the all-rounder as the only batsman in the IPL. The former Indian all-rounder believes that Chennai Super Kings should start using Dube more seriously as a bowling option instead of relying on him only for the big hits.
CSK did not utilize Shivam Dubey’s bowling: Ravichandran Ashwin
Ashwin said that Shivam Dubey has already shown that he can bowl well and deserves to be used as the team’s sixth bowler in the IPL. He believes that CSK did not take full advantage of Dubey’s bowling last season, but things could change in the upcoming IPL 2026.
The former Indian off-spinner has pointed out that if CSK starts relying on Dubey’s all-round skills, it could also open up many new possibilities for them in the upcoming IPL 2026 auction.
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Sharing a picture of Dube bowling in the second T20I against South Africa, Ashwin posted on his ax handle: “This guy has shown enough abilities with the ball to prove that he can be a good sixth bowling option for CSK in the IPL. His bowling has not been utilized by them, but that could change this season, and if that happens, the chances increase manifold in the auction.”
The player has shown enough abilities with the ball to prove that he can be the sixth bowling option for CSK in the IPL.
His bowling has not been used by him, but that could change this season and if that happens, the possibilities increase manifold in the auction. pic.twitter.com/rvYhdRPy7W
– Ashwin (@ashwinravi99) 11 December 2025
Shivam Dubey eyes better performance with the ball as CSK retain him for IPL 2026
Notably, Shivam Dubey did not get a chance to bowl for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025. He bowled only two overs in the entire season, and that was in the final league match against Gujarat Titans. CSK has tried different players as their sixth bowler depending on the situation, but they have not used Dubey with the ball.
In his T20 career, Dubey has taken 68 wickets in 185 matches at an economy rate of 8.84. In T20Is, the star all-rounder has taken 22 wickets in 47 matches so far. However, he will hope to change this approach in IPL 2026 after being retained by CSK for Rs 12 crore ahead of the mini-auction to be held on December 16 in Abu Dhabi.