Former India coach Ravi Shastri expects big-hitting Shivam Dube to set the T20 World Cup alight and says the 30-year-old all-rounder will be key to India’s hopes of racking up big totals in the tournament next month.

Dube, who is also a handy medium pacer, has established himself as one of the most destructive middle-order batters in the IPL, the Chennai Super Kings player scoring 350 runs in 11 matches at a 170-plus strike rate this season.

Among the IPL’s Indian batters, only Abhishek Sharma has hit more sixes than Dube’s 26.

“Please watch out for (him), because he is explosive, he’s devastating and he’s a match-winner,” Shastri told the ICC website. “He hits sixes for fun, and when it comes to spin bowling, he can kill you.

“He’s understood the way to play and I think he holds the key at that number five-six position because if you’re in the doldrums, you want someone to change it in 20-25 balls, he’s the player to go to.”

Shastri also has high hopes on Yashasvi Jaiswal. “His strike rate, which will be close to 200, will help India immensely.” Reuters