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India all-rounder Shivam Dube said he now has greater clarity about his role heading into the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup after scoring a rapid half-century in India’s loss to New Zealand in the fourth T20I on Wednesday.

According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), Dube smashed a 15-ball fifty—the third fastest by an Indian in men’s T20 internationals—and went on to score 65 after walking in at No. 6. Despite India’s 50-run defeat, Dube’s innings stood out as the highlight for the hosts.

“I’m getting better with my mindset because I’m playing these matches regularly now,” Dube said after the game. “I’m batting in these situations, so I understand what to expect and which bowlers are likely to come at me. That’s the key to improving both my batting and bowling.”

The 32-year-old said translating hard work from practice into match situations has been crucial to his development.

“It’s one thing to work hard in the nets, but you need to apply it in games. With experience, my execution has improved, and it’s heading in the right direction,” he added.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav said the team combination was selected with the upcoming T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7, in mind.

“We deliberately played six batters today. We wanted five proper bowlers and to challenge ourselves,” Suryakumar said. “If we’re chasing 180 or 200 and lose two or three wickets early, we wanted to see how we respond. We also wanted to give game time to all players who are part of the World Cup squad.”

The victory marked New Zealand’s first win of the five-match series, and skipper Mitchell Santner said the tour was serving as ideal preparation for the global tournament.

“There’s no better preparation than playing India in India ahead of a World Cup,” Santner said. “It’s about getting our plans right and defining roles before the tournament.”

The fifth and final T20I between India and New Zealand will be played in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday.