Mask, cap, and top berth: How Shivam Dube sneaked onto train in disguise to reach Mumbai after T20 World Cup glory

Hours after making a significant contribution in India’s titular triumph at the T20 World Cup 2026, all-rounder Shivam Dube travelled with his wife and a friend in an AC 3-Tier coach of the Ahmedabad-Mumbai Sayaji Express, hiding his identity with a mask and a thick blanket on the top berth of the early morning train after failing to get a flight back home.

Dube’s unbeaten eight-ball 26 in the summit clash against New Zealand played a crucial role in pushing India’s total to a formidable 255 before the hosts clinched the one-sided affair by a mammoth 96-run margin to become the first-ever team to defend the title and also win the tournament as a host nation.

“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, family and friends. What if someone recognised me at the station or inside the train?”

Like he left no stone unturned at the field, Dube made a foolproof plan to conceal his identity, donning a mask, cap and a full-sleeved shirt to let no one get a hint of his true self.

“I wore a cap, a mask and a full-sleeved T-shirt. It was a 5:10 a.m. train, so we hoped there would not be many people on the platform. 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,” he said.

After reaching inside, Dube quickly occupied the top berth, but that did not prevent him from going entirely unnoticed.

“Shivam Dube? Vo kaun hai, cricketer? (Who is he, the cricketer?)” asked the ticket checker.

However, Anjum, his wife, manoeuvred the situation:

“No, no. Vo kahan se aayega? (Where will he come from?)”

After the close shave, Dube rested on the upper berth waiting for the journey to end. While he pulled off the plan perfectly, he was sceptical about hiding his identity in Borivali in broad daylight, which prompted him to seek assistance from the cops.

“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 [the 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 concluded.