"It was always there to hit some big sixes": Shivam Dube reflects on his role in T20 WC 2026

Dube said his role's always been to hit big sixes, and expressed confidence he'll deliver when given the chance. He credited the Indian team's supporters for their unwavering love and prayers, saying they're the real heroes.

"(On his role) It was always there to hit some big sixes. That was my role since the first day of this tournament. Sometimes it happens. Some other batsmen are there when they go up. But yes, I always back myself and think that whenever I get the opportunity, I will hit some sixes. (On his bowling) I've developed a lot, but yeah, I have not bowled this tournament. But yes, I'm going to come better next time. (Celebrating long into the week?) Definitely, it's one of the biggest days today, and the crowd was amazing. This tournament belongs to the supporters of the Indian cricket team. The prayers, and I think we have got that love which supported us a lot in the bad situations. I think all credit goes to all the Indian cricket team supporters," Shivam Dube said after the match.

Dube has made 235 runs in nine innings with the bat in the tournament at an average of 39.16 and a strike rate of 169.06.He has also scalped five wickets with the ball for India. He has been the crisis man for the defending champions throughout the tournament.

He yet again delivered with his big hits in the final over of the T20 World Cup final against New Zealand on Sunday. Dube slammed an unbeaten 26 off just 8 balls. He smashed James Neesham for 24 runs in the final over. India finished on 255/5.

India's star batter Tilak Varma said the team was prepared for anything, batting at any position. He also spoke on India's fielding, citing Axar Patel's catches in the semis against England and his own effort with Ishan Kishan in the final.

"To be honest, we have prepared a lot. For one and a half years, we have been playing in all the positions, and we were prepared to bat at any position for the team. That's what we have decided. What the team needs, we are up for it, and we have already practiced, and we are in the right mindset for batting in any position. (On the team's fielding getting better) I would not say that whenever the team needed, the boys always stood up in the fielding department. Especially when you see in the semifinal game against England, the way Axar took the catches and the way we have fielded. And today also, I would not say it was the best fielding (effort), but still, we have taken some good catches. In the end, Ishan and I fielded well today. So yeah, end of the day, we are happy that we won the final," Tilak Varma said.

India's ace seamer Arshdeep Singh said he's still processing the win, and emotions will sink in later.

"I don't really know what the emotion feels like right now, sir. At the moment, it feels good because we're winning, but in two or three days, we'll know when the emotions sink in, how it actually feels. And it's a fantastic team, there are match-winners everywhere in this team, so there was belief from the start that we would perform well, and whatever the result is, that's just the topping on the cake. The role of the bowlers is that if the batsmen are scoring 250, then you have to stop them below 250, that's the role we kept for ourselves. And if we bowl first, then we try to restrict them to as low as possible and give the batters a chance to play freely," Arshdeep Singh said after the match.

Fiery spells by Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah and a dominant show by the top-order of Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan helped Team India make history, beating New Zealand by 96 runs at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium. (ANI)