IND vs WI, 1st T20I: Naman Dhir makes his sudden chance count with street-smart bowling display

Naman Dhir claimed three wickets on his T20I debut. | Photo Credit: PTI

Three weeks ago, Naman Dhir was with the Punjab team preparing for the Ranji Trophy campaign when he learned he had been selected for the India ODI squad.

After playing all three matches in the 50-over format, Dhir was also added to the T20 squad in the eleventh hour, making it a dream fortnight. 

On Tuesday, the Punjab all-rounder made his first real mark in international cricket, albeit in a facet of his game few have seen. 

“It was a great feeling when I got the call. I was in the Ranji Trophy camp, in PCA. Right away I called my father; he was emotional; I got a little emotional,” said Dhir.

“Obviously, every kid has a dream to play for the country, so if you represent the country, it’s a big deal. I am from a small town, so especially for me, no one has played from there yet, so  it’s a big deal for me; it’s a big deal in our area.”

Match-ups and analytics have meant captains are reluctant to trust finger spinners, especially off-spinners, in T20S. Operating as the fifth bowling option, Dhir scalped three wickets on his T20 debut and played a key role in India’s eight-wicket win over West Indies here.

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The most impressive aspect of his bowling was how he responded to being attacked, showing real smarts and temperament. Every time he was hit, the 26-year-old adjusted, whether by throwing it wide, slowing it up, or altering his length to induce false shots. Remarkably, all his wicket-taking deliveries came just after he was hit for a six.

“I saw Axar (Patel) bhai bowling in the powerplay, where he was bowling a little slow. It was turning. I thought if I bowl a little slow with the wicket gripping, I can get them out. So I just stuck to my basic plan and got good results,” he added.

While he has made his name through his batting in the IPL for Mumbai Indians, Dhir revealed that he has always worked on his bowling but felt the Impact Player meant he doesn’t get to bowl much for MI.

“I’ve been bowling for a long time. It’s not like I’ve just started. In IPL, yes, there’s an impact player rule, so you see me bowling less. But it’s not like I haven’t bowled; I’ve bowled a lot and have got wickets.”