Former India batter Abhinav Mukund has backed Rajasthan Royals' faith in young batter Shubham Dubey, following his match-winning cameo against Punjab Kings in IPL 2026. Dubey smashed 31 not out off just 12 balls, partnering Donovan Ferreira in a 77-run stand off 32 balls to help RR chase down 223 with four balls to spare.

The challenge of the impact player role

Mukund highlighted the difficulty of succeeding as a lower-order finisher, a role that has historically exposed Indian talent to inconsistency. "It's a very difficult role, and I think a lot of Indian players get stuck in that role," Mukund said on ESPNCricinfo. "When they don't get those runs, it becomes a very difficult position for team management to support the player and say, 'this is the guy we've backed.'" He noted that while some franchises maintain conviction, others abandon players too quickly — a trend he termed unfortunate given the pressure of delivering 25-30 runs off limited balls.

RR's backing paying dividends

The Rajasthan Royals' continued faith in Dubey has proven vindicated. Beyond the Punjab Kings match, he contributed 49 not out off 25 balls in partnership with Ravindra Jadeja against Lucknow Super Giants, helping RR post 159. After modest seasons in 2024 and 2025, Dubey has emerged as a reliable finisher, justifying the franchise's long-term view.

Mukund's assessment and recommendations

"I'm glad he's come good," Mukund said. "I think Shubham should be a starter or, if the impact player role is used like this, then he should be coming in more often than not now." The observation suggests that Dubey's recent form warrants either a permanent promotion in the batting order or guaranteed playing time as an impact substitute.

Chawla backs Dubey's game awareness

Leg spinner Piyush Chawla corroborated the assessment, emphasising Dubey's ability to control match tempo. "The way he has batted, he has shown that talent. He can play those big shots. He knows how to run the game," Chawla said. He drew a parallel to Dubey's debut season with RR, when he was relatively unknown but demonstrated striking ability and situational awareness. "The partnership which he had today with Ferreira, that was just brilliant. He actually made sure that Rajasthan got home," Chawla added.

What's next for Dubey

With IPL 2026 underway, Shubham Dubey's recent form has positioned him as a key asset in RR's middle-order strategy. His ability to accelerate in pressure situations and form quick partnerships makes him a valuable commodity in the franchise's pursuit of the title. The coming matches will test whether his current form is sustainable or a brief purple patch.