CHENNAI: Vidarbha's spin-bowling all-rounder Harsh Dubey, who recently won the prestigious BCCI-Lala Amarnath Award for the Best All-Rounder in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season, is keen to do well in the IPL 2026 for Hyderabad. "I have been practising for a while now on my own and will go full throttle at the camp. I am in a good space now and keen to do well in the IPL when I get a chance," the genial Dubey told this daily in an exclusive chat before joining the camp.
Dubey also won the Madhavrao Scindia Award for being the highest wicket-taker in the 2024-25 Ranji season. The spin-bowling all-rounder scored 476 runs and claimed 69 wickets in 10 matches during the season. Besides, he also captained Vidarbha in the 2025-26 season and guided them to their first-ever Vijay Hazare Trophy title by defeating Saurashtra in the final.
A couple of years back the lanky left-arm spinner chose to play in the TNCA First Division league in Chennai to hone his skills. The move paid dividends as Dubey is now one of standout performers in the Indian domestic circuit and a player to watch out for in the IPL. Like Axar Patel, he can bowl at any stage of the match and bat at any position.
Hyderabad finished sixth last season but now look more formidable especially after the mini-auction. They have some of the world's most explosive batters like Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen in their ranks. "I feel we have one of the best batting line-up in this IPL and I think we have a very good Indian domestic bowling unit, so I feel it's a very good team," said Dubey.
Abhishek and Ishan, who were part of the World Cup-winning India squad, are in great form and it augurs well for SRH. Ishan in particular before the World Cup had a spectacular Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He captained Jharkhand and ensured that they won their maiden SMAT title. "It is nice to have World Cup-winning heroes in the squad. Both Ishan and Abhishek were terrific in the tournament. Ishan as you said has been in terrific form in the last year or so. So it augurs well for us," insisted Dubey.
So will the India duo open the batting for Hyderabad? "Both are a lovely opening pair. But I think Abhishek and Travis will open for us like last year. Ishan might follow them. Plus we have Nitish Reddy and Liam Livingstone. So we have a very deep batting line-up. I feel if Mavi (Shivam) plays, he can bat also,'' he said, adding they have the problem of plenty.
Last season against Kolkata Knight Riders, Dubey accounted for Rinku Singh, Andre Russell and Ramandeep Singh and that helped Hyderabad rout KKR by 110 runs. "I am bowling well, hitting the deck. It's (flow) going good, the rhythm is good. I have been bowling nicely in the last two years across formats for my state. So given an opportunity, I will certainly do well," explained Dubey.
The 23-year-old Pune-born player said that he has the experience to adapt to the shortest format of the game and will not make any drastic changes to his bowling. "I just want to stick to my basics, bowl according to my strengths. I don't think I will do anything different because it's the IPL. I will just try to bowl a little flatter, but I will still try to turn the ball," he signed off.
