<p class="title">Elated after his years of hard work finally paid off, Mumbai all-rounder Shivam Dube on Thursday said he loves power-hitting and would never give up his aggressive brand of cricket, which earned him his maiden call-up to the Indian team.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Dube was rewarded with a maiden call-up for his "phenomenal" exploits with the India A team.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 26-year-old Dube's made into the Indian T20 squad for the three-match series against Bangladesh next month as all-rounder Hardik Pandya is yet to recover from a back surgery.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Dube pipped Vijay Shankar as the second choice all-rounder, primarily based on his big-hitting prowess.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I have a bit of natural power and I work on that. My father always wanted to make me an aggressive batsman and that became my lifestyle. I love power-hitting," Dube told a select group a journalists soon after his selection.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I would like to thank God and my dad. Specially my dad, who always supported me and it was his dream (that I play for India)."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Dube thanked all his well wishers and said he had positive vibes about his selection after a successful season, in which he scored 1,012 runs in 16 first-class matches so far.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It is a good feeling. You (journalists) blessed and supported me throughout. I was expecting a call. I was sure shot of my selection. I felt that my performance was good, so I would be in (the team). I was positive about it," said Dube, who was once an overweight cricketer.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Mumbai all-rounder, who idolises legendary South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis, is known for hitting long sixes and aims to give his 100 per cent on the ground if he gets to feature in the playing eleven.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I will continue to work hard. I haven't thought about (my goals yet). At the moment, I am happy. As an all-rounder I need to be there with 100 per cent focus and good fitness," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Dube recalled that during turbulent times and when he was not picked for the Mumbai U-23 squad, his brother supported him.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"That time, my brother supported me. When my financial condition was tough, my brother supported me," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Dube, who was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore for a whopping Rs five crore, said during his IPL stint last season skipper Virat Kohli had always backed him.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"He (Kohli) always helped and supported me. If I was under pressure or faced any problem, I spoke to him (Kohli) and he would always make me understand."</p>
<p class="title">Elated after his years of hard work finally paid off, Mumbai all-rounder Shivam Dube on Thursday said he loves power-hitting and would never give up his aggressive brand of cricket, which earned him his maiden call-up to the Indian team.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Dube was rewarded with a maiden call-up for his "phenomenal" exploits with the India A team.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The 26-year-old Dube's made into the Indian T20 squad for the three-match series against Bangladesh next month as all-rounder Hardik Pandya is yet to recover from a back surgery.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Dube pipped Vijay Shankar as the second choice all-rounder, primarily based on his big-hitting prowess.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I have a bit of natural power and I work on that. My father always wanted to make me an aggressive batsman and that became my lifestyle. I love power-hitting," Dube told a select group a journalists soon after his selection.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I would like to thank God and my dad. Specially my dad, who always supported me and it was his dream (that I play for India)."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Dube thanked all his well wishers and said he had positive vibes about his selection after a successful season, in which he scored 1,012 runs in 16 first-class matches so far.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"It is a good feeling. You (journalists) blessed and supported me throughout. I was expecting a call. I was sure shot of my selection. I felt that my performance was good, so I would be in (the team). I was positive about it," said Dube, who was once an overweight cricketer.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Mumbai all-rounder, who idolises legendary South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis, is known for hitting long sixes and aims to give his 100 per cent on the ground if he gets to feature in the playing eleven.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I will continue to work hard. I haven't thought about (my goals yet). At the moment, I am happy. As an all-rounder I need to be there with 100 per cent focus and good fitness," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Dube recalled that during turbulent times and when he was not picked for the Mumbai U-23 squad, his brother supported him.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"That time, my brother supported me. When my financial condition was tough, my brother supported me," he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Dube, who was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore for a whopping Rs five crore, said during his IPL stint last season skipper Virat Kohli had always backed him.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"He (Kohli) always helped and supported me. If I was under pressure or faced any problem, I spoke to him (Kohli) and he would always make me understand."</p>