Naman Dhir set for 3rd ODI at home ground with parents in stands
Synopsis
Naman Dhir nearly gave up cricket during Covid-19 and almost moved to Canada — his father's one-year ultimatum changed everything. Now the Faridkot all-rounder lines up for India at his own home ground in New Chandigarh, with his parents in the stands, for the 3rd ODI against the West Indies.
Key Takeaways
Naman Dhir is set to feature in the 3rd ODI between India and West Indies at the New PCA Stadium, New Chandigarh on 3 October 2026 .
Dhir, from Faridkot , nearly emigrated to Canada during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020–21 after getting no domestic cricket opportunities.
His father urged him to give cricket one more year — leading to Ranji Trophy selection, an IPL contract, and eventually an India call-up .
His parents and supporters from his home region are watching from the stands, making it a landmark personal occasion.
Dhir confirmed he is fully fit after cramps earlier in the series and expressed satisfaction with India's dominant top-order performances from Virat Kohli , Rohit Sharma , and Shubman Gill .
India have already clinched the ODI series ahead of the third and final match.
Batting all-rounder Naman Dhir is set for a deeply personal outing at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh on 3 October 2026, as India take on the West Indies in the third and final ODI of the series — with his parents watching from the stands at the venue where his cricketing journey began.
From near-emigration to the India jersey
The Faridkot-born cricketer revealed that the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 had pushed him dangerously close to abandoning his cricket dreams and migrating to Canada, where his sisters reside. 'After Covid-19 in 2020 and 2021, I was thinking of migrating to Canada where my sisters live because I hadn't gotten any break,' Dhir said in a chat with broadcasters ahead of the third ODI.
It was his father's intervention that proved to be the turning point. 'My dad said, "Let's take one more year. Let's give it your all this year." Luckily, I got picked for Ranji Trophy and after that, I was picked for IPL and then the journey started,' he added. The sequence — state cricket at under-16 level, a career stall, a renewed push, Ranji Trophy selection, and then an IPL contract — traces the kind of non-linear path that defines many Indian cricketers who make it through the domestic grind.
A special moment at home
Playing at the New PCA Stadium — arguably the ground most associated with his formative cricketing years — Dhir described the occasion as one that carries rare personal weight. 'I think it will be a very good experience for me, playing in my home ground. My family is coming as well. A lot of people who know me have come here as well. I have started my journey here. So, it will be a very special moment for me,' he said.
The previous two ODIs, held in Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati, did not offer him the opportunity to bat in front of family — making the third ODI a more keenly awaited occasion on a personal level.
Fit and eager, but team-first in outlook
Dhir also addressed concerns over his physical condition, clarifying that a scare earlier in the series was not an injury. 'There was not an injury. It was only cramps because of the heat. So, I'm completely fine,' he said.
Despite his eagerness to contribute with the bat on his home ground, Dhir expressed wholehearted satisfaction with how India's top order has dominated the series — already clinched by the hosts. 'Obviously, I'm very keen, especially in front of my home ground and my parents, I'm very keen to bat. But it's okay if we are dominating. So, I'm happy with that. 100 percent,' he said, singling out Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shubman Gill for praise. 'They (Virat, Rohit, Shubman) are, I guess, dictating the terms,' he added, acknowledging that the ease of their strokeplay belies the difficulty of the conditions.
The bigger picture
Dhir's story is a reminder of how fine the margins are in Indian domestic cricket, where talent alone rarely suffices without the right timing and the right support system. With India having already sealed the series, the third ODI offers the team an opportunity to experiment and younger players like Dhir a chance to stake claims ahead of future selections. All eyes at the New PCA Stadium on 3 October will be on more than just the scoreboard.
Point of View
And many did not get the second chance he did. That a father's one-year ultimatum is what kept him in the system raises an uncomfortable question about how robust India's talent retention infrastructure actually is. Now in the India setup, Dhir is still waiting for a meaningful batting contribution in a series where the top three have left little room — his home ground outing may offer the clearest window yet, but it also highlights the paradox of being in a dominant team: the better India bats, the less he is needed.
NationPress
3 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Naman Dhir and why is the 3rd ODI special for him?
Naman Dhir is an Indian batting all-rounder from Faridkot, Punjab, who is set to play the 3rd ODI against West Indies at the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh — the ground where he began his cricketing journey — with his parents watching from the stands. It is his first home ground appearance in India colours.
Why did Naman Dhir almost move to Canada?
During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, Dhir had not received any meaningful cricket opportunity after representing Punjab at the under-16 level, and was considering emigrating to Canada, where his sisters live. His father persuaded him to give the sport one final year, which led to his Ranji Trophy selection and subsequent IPL contract.
Has India already won the ODI series against West Indies?
Yes, India had already clinched the ODI series before the 3rd match in New Chandigarh. The third ODI is the final game of the series and offers India an opportunity to complete a clean sweep.
Is Naman Dhir fit to play the 3rd ODI?
Yes, Dhir confirmed he is fully fit ahead of the 3rd ODI. He clarified that an earlier concern was only cramps caused by the heat and not an injury, stating he is '100 percent' ready.
What did Naman Dhir say about India's batting dominance in the series?
Dhir expressed full satisfaction with how India's top order has performed, specifically praising Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shubman Gill for 'dictating the terms.' While personally eager to bat at his home ground, he said he is happy with the team's dominant position in the series.
