New Delhi: Shivam Dubey He turned 33 on Friday and in India’s first T20I against Ireland in Belfast, he celebrated his birthday with a rare and memorable achievement – becoming the fourth Indian bowler to take a T20I wicket on his birthday.As a fourth-down option, Dube was introduced to the offense in the eighth round and made an immediate impact. In his first delivery, he bowled out Benjamin Calitz, who made 15 off 11 balls, including two sixes, as Ireland looked to build momentum.Dube’s short delivery pushed the batsman towards an ill-timed pull, sending the top edge towards fine leg, where Prasidh Krishna, who ran back and kept his eyes on the ball, took an easy catch.It was a birthday present that Dube will remember – his 65th international appearance and his 32nd T20I wicket.
Indian Star Elite Birthday Club
With the wicket, Dube joined the list of Indian cricketers who have taken T20I wickets on their birthdays. Club members include Yuvraj Singh, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, names that underline the rarity of the feat.Yuvraj Singh was the first to achieve this, taking 3 for 23 against Sri Lanka in Mohali on his 28th birthday in 2009. A decade later, Ravindra Jadeja joined the list with figures of 1 for 30 against the West Indies in Hyderabad on her 31st birthday in 2019.Kuldeep Yadav achieved this feat twice, first on his 29th birthday when he took 5 for 17 against South Africa in Johannesburg, and secondly on his 32nd birthday when he took 2 for 12 against the same opponents in Dharamshala.The addition of Dube adds a new name to an eccentric but prestigious statistics club, blending celebration with on-field impact.
Indian cricketers to select T20I wicket on birthday
- Yuvraj Singh(2009)
- Ravindra Jadeja(2019)
- Kuldeep Yadav (2023 and 2025)
- Shivamdube(2026)
Handy spells for high-scoring matches
Dube scored 1 for 18 in three overs while Ireland scored 182 for 9 in 20 overs. The all-rounder is now playing his 65th T20I and has quietly set a useful international record. Before this match, he had 31 wickets and 991 runs at an average of 30.96, including 6 half-centuries, reflecting his growing value as a true dual-role option.
