their new-ball bowling attack has floundered, with the side taking only one scalp in the opening 10 overs of the first two matches in Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati while conceding 177 runs in the mandatory power-play phase While India’s top-order batters have flourished. In Guwahati, on a placid pitch, India gave away 405 runs, thus raising concerns over the performances of back-up pacers in the run-up to the 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. India’s bowlers have leaked runs due to poor execution of plans, and young batting all-rounder Naman Dhir said the side is working on better plans ahead of the third and final ODI against the West Indies, to be played at the New PCA Stadium on Saturday.
It was good that we won the match by chasing a huge total.
But bounce will be more in South Africa, and it will help the fast bowlers there,” said Dhir in the pre-match press conference. “As a bowling unit, yes, we would like to do better and try to stop the West Indies to a lower total. If you see, that wicket was also good, and the ground’s dimensions on one side were small. Yes, we leaked more runs and could have gone with better plans. “The batting is always in my mind, irrespective of what the game is. As far as bowling is concerned, I had a big side while bowling to the right-hander, so I was using that. I was trying to bowl with simple plans and see what it would yield and not try to do anything on my own,” he concluded.
Asked about his batting approach during pressure situations, Dhir stressed the importance of remaining adaptable. “The plan is simple – I will not go in with a fixed plan if I get a chance to bat. It depends on the situation and the demand of the team. So, as per that, I will plan my batting innings in the game.”
Another crucial role of mine is also to be the fifth and sixth bowler, so that the team could utilise me there, and that’s been the communication so far,” he said. “The communication was very simple – I will be batting at number six and seven, where I have played in IPL. Reflecting on the opportunity to represent the country on his home ground, Dhir expressed gratitude for this occasion in his life. “I had no idea that I would be picked in the Indian team and would play a match at my home ground. I have played a lot here and know it well. After the Sher-e-Punjab tournament, I had no idea about getting a call-up to the Indian team. It is a great feeling full of gratitude, and I always want to give my best.”
Dispelling perceptions that he is a part-time option with the ball, Dhir clarified that the Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League had previously led to him not getting any overs to roll his arm over.
