After India won the 2026 T20 World Cup, Ravichandran Ashwin played down rumors about Shivam Dube’s train journey, saying it was nothing special.
On March 8, soon after India defeated the New Zealand national cricket team in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Dube opted to take a train from Ahmedabad to Mumbai instead of waiting for the team’s flight. The all-rounder, who boarded the 5.10am Sayaji Nagari Express accompanied by his wife and friends, later explained that he was eager to reunite with his father and son. The moment quickly went viral, with fans praising his simplicity.
Ashwin, however, ignored the excitement surrounding the event while speaking at a RevSportz event. “I saw news reports about how Shivam Dube traveled by train. I didn’t want to read such articles. What’s the big deal? I traveled by train,” he said.
The former India off-spinner went on to stress that cricketers should be able to enjoy their day-to-day experiences without causing a stir. “I wish we… international cricketers could go to Chaiwalas and have tea with people. In fact, we have forgotten that the joy of life lies in the very small moments,” he added.
According to reports, Dubey tried to avoid attracting attention during the journey by wearing a cap, mask and a long-sleeved T-shirt while traveling in an AC three-tier bus. A ticket inspector briefly doubted his identity after seeing his name on the booking form, but the situation was resolved when his wife casually dismissed the possibility.
On the field, Dube was one of the key contributors to India’s title win. In eight innings, he scored 235 runs at an impressive strike rate of 169.06 and provided crucial cameos to help keep the momentum going. He has already contributed to India’s success in 2024 and he will once again be an underrated but crucial figure in the 2026 victory.