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New Delhi: Tips of India's bowling coach Morne Morkel has helped him become sharper as a bowler, Shivam Dube said after India's nine-wicket in the Asia Cup opener against the United Arab Emirates.
Dube picked up his 3/4 in two overs as the hosts were skittled out for 57 in 13. 1 overs in Dubai, with India reaching the target in 4.3 overs.
Speaking after their facile win, Dube highlighted the role of Morkel in sharpening him up as a bowler in order for him to become a full-fledged all-rounder.
"Morne has been working with me since I came back into the Indian team for the England series. He has given me certain specific advice and I worked on them," Dube said on Wednesday.
"He told me to bowl a line that is slightly outside the off-stump. He also worked with me in developing a slower delivery and tweaked my run-up a bit. The head coach and the skipper had told me that my bowling will have a role to play."
Since Dube isn't part of the Test and ODI set-ups, he worked extensively on his fitness and trained his all-round skills.
"For the last two months, I have worked a great deal on my fitness. As far as my batting is concerned, I know I have a role to play (as a power-hitter) in the middle overs," the left-arm batter said.
"I know over the years, bowlers targetted me with short balls and I have worked on increasing my range of shots.
"As tournament progresses, wicket will get slower and I know my slower (ball) will be effective and I also know how to bat in middle overs," he added.
Since he is a seam-bowling all-rounder Dube faces competition from Hardik Pandya for a place in the starting XI but insisted he learns a lot from him and now looks forward to the Pakistan game on September 14.
"Hardik is like a brother from whom I tend to learn a lot as he has way more experience both in IPL and international cricket compared to me. Comparison, I never thought of, as my only endeavour is to learn as much as I can from his vast experience," Dube said.
"Whether I am playing against UAE or Pakistan, I try to follow what my coach Gauti bhai (Gambhir) tells me. When you play for India, you have got a chance to do some great things for the country."
