India national cricket team all-rounder Shivam Dube travelled from Ahmedabad to Mumbai by train after India’s victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final. Dube opted for a train journey in 3rd AC after discovering that flights from Ahmedabad to Mumbai were fully booked following the final. He travelled early in the morning with his wife, Anjum Khan, and a friend. To avoid drawing attention from fans during the journey, Dube wore a cap and a mask while boarding the train. The trip went smoothly, and he contacted local police after arriving at Borivali station in Mumbai to ensure a secure exit from the station. The 31-year-old said he wanted to return home quickly to spend time with his family after the tournament.
“There was no flight available, so I decided to take a train from Ahmedabad early in the morning to Mumbai. We could have gone by road, but the train was faster," Dube told The Indian Express. “Me, my wife and a friend decided to take a train. 3rd AC tickets were available, so we decided to book them. Everyone we spoke to was worried. What if someone recognised me at the station or inside the train?"
“I wore a cap, a mask and a full-sleeved T-shirt. It was a 5.10 am train, so we hoped there would not be many people on the platform," he said. “I told my wife that I will wait in the car till five minutes before the train’s departure. After that, I will rush to board the train," Dube said.
Once inside, Dube moved to the top berth to stay out of sight. When the travelling ticket examiner checked tickets, his wife helped keep his identity hidden. “‘Shivam Dube? Woh kaun hai, cricketer?’ the TTE asked, and Anjum replied, ‘No, no. Woh kahan se aayega?’” Dube recalled.
“At night, I got down from the berth, but no one recognised me on the way to the washroom and back. The train trip was smooth, but I was worried about getting down at Borivali in broad daylight. I couldn’t have escaped attention there," he said. “They (police) thought I was landing at the airport but were surprised when I told them that I was travelling by train. I was provided a police escort, so things were easy and the exit was smooth," he added.
Dube, who was among India’s standout performers during the tournament, featured in all nine matches and scored 235 runs while also picking up five wickets. In the final against New Zealand national cricket team at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, March 8, he delivered a late flourish with the bat, smashing 26 runs off just eight balls.
The left-handed batter added 24 of those runs in the final over of India’s innings, hitting three fours and two sixes to boost the team’s total as India secured a record-extending third T20 World Cup title.
