Dhir eyes batting chance after stellar T20I bowling debut against West Indies

Naman Dhir proved his bowling credentials on his T20I debut as India defeated West Indies in the first match of their series at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday. The off-spinner delivered an accomplished performance, claiming three wickets for 31 runs to help restrict the visitors to 171, which India successfully chased down in 14.4 overs.

Despite the impressive bowling figures, Dhir acknowledged that batting remains his core skill and he is awaiting an opportunity to demonstrate his prowess with the bat. "I am still waiting for my chance in batting, and I will be happy if I get a chance with the bat. But I am happy that I could contribute with the ball and the team won," the all-rounder said at the post-match press conference.

Captain Shreyas Iyer spearheaded India's successful chase with a commanding maiden T20I century, scoring 102 not out off just 43 deliveries. Dhir attributed his bowling success to effective execution of his plans on a pitch that favored spinners bowling at a slightly reduced pace. "Obviously the first wicket which I got today was an achievement for me, but at the same time it is all about executing your plans," he noted, highlighting the importance of strategy in his performance.

Dhir's debut marks a promising beginning to what could be a significant career for the emerging all-rounder in India's T20 setup, with his next opportunity likely to hinge on the team composition for subsequent matches in the series.