CHENNAI: Every successful Indian team has eventually discovered an all-rounder who quietly solves multiple problems at once. IN Sharp DubeyIndia believe they may have found another such cricketer for the future.The 23-year-old left-arm all-rounder is still at the beginning of his international journey, but early signs have already convinced the team management that he is a player worth investing in. The trust placed in him was evident from the captain Shubman Gill‘s words, who sees Dubey as an important addition to India’s group of all-rounders.“If you look at a group of all-rounders, especially all-rounders who spin left-handed and can hit, he’s one of those players. He is very young and it is important that we show confidence in players like him. He is someone who can bowl 10 overs for us and, if needed, can also do the job with the bat in situations where you need 80 runs in the last 10 overs,” Gill said.These comments came before India’s squad for the England ODI series was announced. However, despite Gill’s support and a promising start at international level, Dubey did not find a place in the team as Axar Patel he returned to the side after rest for the Afghanistan series.Still, his absence is unlikely to change the long-term plans India have for him. WITH Ravichandran Ashwin after he retired and India mastered the job Ravindra Jadeja and Axar, the team management has already started grooming the next generation of all-rounders.The selectors named Dubey for both the Test and ODI against Afghanistan, signaling a long-term investment rather than a short-term experiment.That faith was further emphasized in the first ODI when Dubey was given preference over the more experienced Kuldeep Yadav. On his debut, the youngster came under pressure in his opening over but responded impressively, showing temperament to finish with figures of 3-47 from five overs to end his two-match ODI spell with four wickets. While his 7.08 ERA remained on the higher side, he was able to hit in key moments and showed an ability to bounce back under pressure.While his bowling abilities are already well established, his batting potential is an untapped area in the series. India believe there is more to be gained from him with the bat, especially as he possesses the ability to finish the innings and contribute valuable runs in the lower order.His numbers across formats further strengthen his case. In the IPL, he took eight wickets in eight games for Sunrisers Hyderabad at an average of 28.50. In List A cricket, he took 35 wickets in 32 matches and scored 296 runs in 17 innings, including two half-centuries, at an average of 26.50 with the bat.His first-class record is even more impressive. In 27 matches, Dubey took 133 wickets at an average of 23.26, including nine five-wicket hauls and two 10-wicket hauls.
