When Hardik Pandya was ruled out of the Asia Cup final, the easier call would have been to bring back Arshdeep Singh, the left-arm seamer who had won India the game against Sri Lanka days earlier in the Super Over. Instead, India placed more faith and responsibility in Shivam Dube, their fast-bowling allrounder whose progress had never quite kept pace with expectation.

Dube justified every bit of that faith on the night of that final. He took the new ball, bowled with control and even outbowled Jasprit Bumrah in the early overs. Later, he returned to play a decisive hand with the bat, helping India close out the chase and clinch the title.

There's been no Pandya during this five-match T20I series in Australia either and once again on Thursday (November 6), Shivam Dube was thrust into the spotlight, this time with the bat at No. 3 on a pretty unknown pitch and with the older ball in the middle overs.

Dube, on a pitch very different from the low and slow ones in Dubai, adapted his skills and dismissed Mitchell Marsh and Tim David in successive overs, turning the run-chase on its head.

"Yes, it's important for me to bowl well," Dube said after India's win. "Because when I got the chance [to play for India again], I knew that I had to bowl. "

Having come a long way from being seen as just a spin-hitter to evolving into a genuine all-rounder, Dube reflected on his progress and credited India coach Gautam Gambhir and bowling coach Morne Morkel for their support.

"Morne [Morkel], Gauti bhai and Surya, they came up with a very good plan for me, which track I have to go and what I have to bowl. Morne has helped me a lot. Because there are some small things that have made my bowling better, which was not happening before despite trying hard.

"Gauti bhai backed me a lot for that. Tu bindaas bowling daal [You bowl with a free mind]. We are here for you. You might concede runs but we want you to express yourself. That was the plan even today. So, I did that."

In Queensland, Dube stuck to his plans, bowling into the pitch just like he did on the dead tracks of UAE and bowled to the longer side of the ground to defend the huge square boundaries like he had "never seen before" in cricket.