NEW DELHI: Shivam Dube had a front-row view as his Mumbai teammate Suryakumar Yadav finally unleashed the full range of his batting arsenal. Suryakumar smashed his first fifty-plus score in 23 innings, putting his critics to rest ahead of next month's T20 World Cup at home.

The Indian captain combined with Dube to put together an unbeaten 81-run partnership, helping India chase down New Zealand's 209-run target with ease. Promoted ahead of Hardik Pandya to maintain a left-right combination, Dube made an impactful 36 off just 18 balls.

"I was asked about Surya's form in a press conference not so long ago. That's when I said that he is the type of player, when he will show his form, the world will know what type of player he is. So, today he showed Suryakumar Yadav why he is the number one T20 batter.

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"So, I enjoyed a lot. And it felt really good to see him," said Dube.

'Small pocket blast'

Before the Suryakumar-Dube partnership, Ishan Kishan had already taken the game out of New Zealand's reach with a blistering 76 off just 32 balls in his comeback series.

"Ishaan is one of the best left handers I have seen. He is called a small pocket blast in the dressing room. So, I think his batting is very strong. And he has shown that what he was doing in the domestic, he got out in the last match.

"But he knows what he can do. He showed it tonight," said Dube.

The southpaw said it was a batting beauty and the heavy dew made it tougher for the bowlers.

Dube is also being used in the bowling department regularly. On Friday, het got the important wicket of Daryl Mitchell with a slower ball..

"Definitely, hard work has been put in. But it is important that the captain and the coach support me. They have backed me a lot.

"I have said this before also. And I have prepared myself a little. That how I will bowl, what situation I will come in. So, as a sixth bowler, whatever I get, two, three or four overs, I will try to bowl according to the situation at that time," he added.

(With PTI Inputs)