Naman Dhir admits bowling lapses, backs India to fix plans in 3rd ODI vs WI
Synopsis
India conceded 177 powerplay runs and 405 total in Guwahati — and all-rounder Naman Dhir isn't hiding from it. As the series decider heads to New Chandigarh for its maiden men's ODI, Dhir opens up on bowling lapses, Jadeja's advice, and why his homecoming carries extra responsibility.
Key Takeaways
Naman Dhir admitted India's bowlers 'leaked more runs' and 'could have gone with better plans' in the first two ODIs.
India took just one wicket in the opening 10 overs of both matches, conceding 177 runs in powerplay phases.
India gave away 405 runs in Guwahati on a flat pitch, raising concerns about pace depth ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup .
Dhir confirmed his role as a number six or seven batter and the team's fifth or sixth bowling option.
New Chandigarh hosts its maiden men's ODI on Saturday — a personal homecoming for Dhir.
Dhir cited guidance from Ravindra Jadeja and training with Mumbai Indians as key to developing his bowling.
All-rounder Naman Dhir acknowledged on Friday, 3 October 2025 that India's bowlers have conceded far too many runs in the first two matches of the series and said the side is actively working on sharper plans ahead of the third and final ODI against the West Indies, scheduled at the New PCA Stadium, New Chandigarh on Saturday.
Bowling Concerns Mount Ahead of Decider
India's new-ball attack has struggled to make early inroads, managing just one wicket in the opening 10 overs across both matches — in Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati — while conceding 177 runs in the power-play phase alone. The concern deepened in Guwahati, where India surrendered 405 runs on a placid surface, shining an uncomfortable spotlight on the back-up pace bowling resources.
'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,' Dhir said at the pre-match press conference. He added a note of optimism: 'But bounce will be more in South Africa, and it will help the fast bowlers there.'
The remarks carry added weight in the context of the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup, to be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. With the tournament on the horizon, questions around India's pace depth and powerplay discipline are growing louder.
Dhir's Role in the Playing XI
Dhir said the team management has provided him full clarity on his responsibilities in the side. 'The communication was very simple — I will be batting at number six and seven, where I have played in IPL. 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 explained.
He pushed back against the perception that he is a part-time option with the ball, noting that the Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL) had limited his bowling exposure at the franchise level. 'I had been bowling from the start. My bowling hasn't been seen much due to the Impact Player rule in the IPL. I am not required there that much, but I do bowl regularly for my state,' he said. Dhir credited the Mumbai Indians set-up with helping him develop his bowling in recent seasons.
Jadeja's Inputs and the Batting Mindset
The 23-year-old revealed he has been taking guidance from senior teammate Ravindra Jadeja on how to set up batters with the ball. 'He has given me simple plans to bowl according to the batsman — like, I can bowl in an attacking manner if I have to get wickets, or if I have to contain the batsman, then I can have simple lines to bowl to them,' Dhir said, referring to Jadeja as 'Jaddu bhai'.
On adapting to the lower-middle order with the bat, Dhir maintained the transition is more mental than technical. 'I guess there are not many technical changes. You can make mental changes, as there's less time to bat at number six or seven. But I have had the experience of playing in the IPL at number seven last season. It is not new for me and it is not difficult for me,' he said.
A Homecoming at New Chandigarh
Saturday's fixture carries personal significance for Dhir — it will be his first senior international match on home soil, as New Chandigarh prepares to host its maiden men's ODI. 'I had no idea that I would be picked in the Indian team and would play a match at my home ground. It is a great feeling full of gratitude, and I always want to give my best,' he said.
Dhir offered a surface read ahead of the match: 'If it's prepared as per what I know, it will be a good total of 290-300.' He also stressed that his batting approach will remain situation-driven. '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.'
With the series locked and the decider at a venue Dhir knows intimately, all eyes will be on whether India's bowlers — and their new utility man — can deliver a more disciplined performance on Saturday.
Point of View
And the replacements have been exposed on flat decks; the fact that Dhir, a batting all-rounder, is being flagged as a solution to the bowling problem tells its own story. With the 2027 World Cup in South Africa where pace and bounce should theoretically favour India, the temptation will be to dismiss these ODIs as low-stakes experiments. That would be a mistake: powerplay discipline is a habit, not a switch, and the current group of back-up seamers has yet to demonstrate it. The Jadeja-guided 'simple plans' Dhir describes are a short-term patch on a gap that needs a longer-term answer.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Naman Dhir say about India's bowling in the ODI series against West Indies?
Dhir acknowledged that India's bowlers leaked too many runs and could have executed better plans in the first two ODIs. He said the side is working to correct this ahead of the series decider at New Chandigarh on Saturday.
How many runs did India concede in powerplay across the first two ODIs?
India conceded 177 runs in the powerplay phase across the first two matches in Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati, taking only one wicket in the opening 10 overs of each game. In Guwahati alone, India gave away 405 runs.
What is Naman Dhir's role in India's playing XI?
According to Dhir, the team management has assigned him to bat at number six or seven and serve as the fifth or sixth bowling option. He said the communication from the team has been clear and consistent on this front.
Why has Naman Dhir's bowling not been seen much in the IPL?
Dhir attributed this to the Impact Player rule in the IPL, which reduced the need for him to bowl at the franchise level. He stressed that he bowls regularly for his state side and has worked significantly on his bowling with Mumbai Indians.
Why is the third ODI at New Chandigarh significant for Naman Dhir?
The match is Dhir's homecoming — New Chandigarh is hosting its maiden men's ODI and Dhir has played extensively on the ground. He described the occasion as 'a great feeling full of gratitude' and said he carries extra responsibility to perform on home soil.
