Shivam Dube produced one of the most breathtaking hitting displays by an Indian batter in recent T20I history as he smashed a 15-ball half-century in Visakhapatnam against New Zealand, but his heroics ultimately went in vain as India lost by 50 runs. The all-rounder’s assault ignited the crowd at the ACA-VDCA Stadium and etched his name into the record books with one of the fastest T20I fifties by an Indian.
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New Zealand post a challenging total
After being put to bat first in Vizag, New Zealand exploded out of the blocks with a powerful opening partnership between Tim Seifert and Devon Conway. The pair stitched together a century stand in quick time, with Seifert leading the charge and racing to 62 off 36 balls. Consistent aggression from the top order laid a strong foundation for the visitors, who finished with 215 for 7 in their 20 overs, setting a formidable target for the hosts.
Dube’s whirlwind 15-ball fifty
India’s chase began on a difficult note as early wickets fell and momentum swung heavily in New Zealand’s favour. Into that pressure walked Shivam Dube, who answered with an astonishing counter-attack. He kicked off his innings with a six on first ball off Santner.
Dube reached his half-century in just 15 balls, hammering sixes and boundaries at a strike-rate of 325 as he punished anything in his hitting zone. His assault included a massive 29-run over against Ish Sodhi that swung the momentum briefly back towards India’s chase.
The 15-ball fifty was the third fastest by an Indian in T20I cricket, behind only Yuvraj Singh (12 balls) and Abhishek Sharma (14 balls), underlining the sheer power and intent of Dube’s innings.
A valiant effort that fell short
Dube continued his blitz and finished with 65 runs off 23 balls, striking seven sixes and two fours, but his effort was not enough to secure victory.
India struggled to build partnerships around him, and despite moving the score towards the target, the support was limited and the required rate remained steep. Ultimately, he was dismissed at the non-striker’s end in a run-out when a deflected throw from Matt Henry caught him short as India were bowled out for 165 in 18.4 overs.
New Zealand’s comeback win
New Zealand’s disciplined bowling attack backed up their strong batting performance. Mitchell Santner was particularly effective, claiming key breakthroughs in the middle overs and finishing with figures that restricted India’s chase. The visitors’ cohesive bowling effort ensured they defended the 216-run target and recorded a convincing 50-run victory, ending India’s run of wins on this tour and pulling the series back to 3–1.
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What the innings means
Dube’s blitz in Vizag was more than just a personal milestone, it was a heroic attempt to rescue India from a steep chase under pressure. With strike-power reminiscent of the brightest T20 hitters, Dube’s performance electrified the stadium and momentarily shifted the balance of the contest. Although the result did not go India’s way, his innings will be remembered for its raw power and timing, and for providing one of the standout batting displays of the series.
