Spin legend Ravichandran Ashwin named a key player for Team India ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 final against New Zealand. Ahmedabad will play host to the all-important fixture on Sunday, March 8.

Ashwin reckoned that Shivam Dube has not been spoken about much and has been crucial to India’s campaign. Dube played a vital knock in the semifinal against England, scoring 43 runs off just 25 balls with a boundary and four maximums at a strike rate of 172.

“It is important to speak about one player who has been pivotal and has done so very well, but he’s been spoken very little about. I am talking about Shivam Dube. All Rashid and the other bowlers had to do was think if their team can chase 10 runs less. Rashid bowled a couple of really good bad deliveries,” he said on his YouTube channel.

The former India all-rounder added that New Zealand must look to control Dube in the final. He reflected that the left-hander could take the game away from the Kiwis and attack their spinners if they miss their lines and lengths.

“If you are New Zealand, Shivam Dube is someone you have to keep very quiet, because he can take the game away from you when spinners are on operation. New Zealand have got Santner and Ravindra, who I think they will try to avoid against Dube. If you miss the lengths, Dube is going to take you for plenty. He is someone New Zealand need to tag, otherwise, this final will go one way, and he will take the game away from them.”

So far in the tournament, Dube has scored 209 runs from seven games at an average of 34.83 and a strike rate of 159.54, including a half-century.

Ravichandran Ashwin highlights key match-ups ahead of T20 World Cup 2026 final

Ravichandran Ashwin also pointed out some key match-ups ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 final. He reckoned that it would be interesting to see how the likes of Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan play Kiwi off-spinner Cole McConchie. His advice for Abhishek in particular was to take singles and let Sanju Samson face the off-spinner.

“McConchie is a very skilful bowler. He is very clever. We do have Ishan Kishan and Abhishek coming up. Ishan is going to find it tough to hit it through the off-side and Abhishek through the leg. McConhie will be clever in operating. Do our boys have the answer? Can Ishan pull out the reverse sweep? Can Abhishek turn the strike and give it to Samson to take the off-spinner? The smarter thing is to take a single and ask Sanju to take him down. I am looking forward to a much-improved performance in terms of game awareness from our top three batters,” he explained.

Ashwin also urged India to use the finger spinner in Axar Patel against New Zealand opener Finn Allen. He opined that Axar could get the better of Allen and could play a key role in dismissing him.

“India’s unsung hero, absolute champion, who is not going to be celebrated. This man is someone you can dial when India is in trouble. It is Axar Patel. He is going to be the linchpin in dismissing Finn Allen in this game. I hope Surya doesn’t miss a trick and brings him on when Finn is on strike. If India are smart, they can utilise Axar to get him out,” Ashwin expressed.

Finn Allen has been in destructive form. In the semifinal against South Africa, the Kiwi opener slammed a record-breaking, unbeaten 33-ball hundred. It will be crucial for India to see the back of him quickly in the final.