When Shivam Dube waged a lone battle against Karnataka

Group A, 2019 Vijay Hazare Trophy  - Having put into bat first at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Karnataka posted a mammoth score of 312 thanks to half-centuries from KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, and Manish Pandey. In pursuit, Abhimanyu Mithun drew the first blood for Karnataka in the eighth over, when he had Yashaswi Jaiswal edging one to BR Sharath. Disciplined bowling and poor strokeplay resulted in Mumbai being reduced to 104 for four within the space of 20 overs. The visitors needed a herculean task to overhaul the mountainous target. 

Shivam Dube, who walked out to the middle in the 21st over, was quick off the blocks. Despite running out of partners at the other end, the southpaw motored along well, successfully abrogating the damage caused by the Karnataka bowlers. As the innings took some shape, the run chase looked within Mumbai's reach. Shivam Dube, with his gallant show, brought up his century in just 58 balls, becoming the fifth-fastest Indian player in List A cricket to reach the milestone. Mithun, introduced into the attack in the 42nd over, claimed the prize scalp of Shivam Dube, placing the final nail in the coffin. 

His case for a maiden Indian call-up, however, was irrefutable after his 67-ball 118 against Karnataka in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. There was a phase in Dube's life that compelled him to give up entirely on his aspirations of representing the country. Success, as few say, doesn't happen overnight. But It stipulates years of rigorous training. However, the Mumbaikar, with a strong headspace surmounted the hardships in life. Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Shivam Dube confirmed that he has a separate session for range hitting in the nets, which undoubtedly helps him enhance his area of comfort. "I practice a lot for big-hitting too. I have a separate session for it. I always go for two-three sessions and the last session is power hitting. I work a lot on it because that's my strength and I always back my strength. I have the power, so I use it." 

There are few athletes who have laddered up the ranks with innate talent, and others who have relied solely on relentless hard work, determination and fortitude. Shivam Dube's rise to prominence is a notable example of the saying, "Hard work beats talent."