India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak heaped praise on all-rounder Naman Dhir on Thursday in Christchurch, calling him a 'very exciting talent' who understands his role in the side and executes it to the letter — a ringing endorsement that came a day after Dhir's match-winning cameo in the T20I series opener against New Zealand.

Dhir's Match-Winning Burst Sets the Tone

Naman Dhir sealed India's four-wicket win at the Hagley Oval with a blistering unbeaten 42 off 15 balls, as India chased down 226 — their highest successful T20I chase ever — with two deliveries to spare. The knock capped a chase that was set up by openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, who put on 93 runs inside the powerplay, before captain Shreyas Iyer contributed 42 off 28 balls in the middle overs.

Kotak pointed to Dhir's earlier exploits as evidence of a player the team had already identified as a match-changer. 'Naman Dhir, in the last six to eight balls in the Bangaluru match, what he did, we know that he is capable of doing that. He is a very exciting talent. His role in the last match was very, very important. He is a power-packed player. He knows what is expected from him. And he does exactly that, which is a great sign,' Kotak told reporters at a press conference.

Dhir's Multi-Dimensional Value to the Side

The batting coach highlighted how Dhir's skill set across all three facets of the game gives India rare flexibility at the back end of their batting order. 'In T20s, if a team has a lot of left-handers, he can bowl four overs. Or if there is an equal balance of right and left-handers, he can bowl two overs or one,' Kotak said.

He also singled out Dhir's technique and temperament as markers of long-term promise. 'He is someone who can also field really well and bat, who can make an impact in batting in the finisher's role... The batting technique, the base he creates early, the power he has, the way he plays the short ball, he is a very, very exciting talent,' Kotak added, while noting it was still early days in the 23-year-old's international career.

Samson and Abhishek's Fearless Approach Draws Praise

Sanju Samson top-scored with a 33-ball 67 in the chase, and Kotak reserved special admiration for the way Samson and Abhishek Sharma overcame the psychological weight of chasing a massive target. 'If you ever put yourself in the place of a batter, and think that you have to hit 3-4 sixes in the first two overs, you will also be afraid of getting out,' Kotak said.

He added that sustaining such intent across consecutive matches — against the fear of early dismissals and the resulting selection pressure — was the real achievement. 'Overcoming all that, and the way they are showing the intent, that excites me. Really, it is amazing, that on top of power, talent, and intent, and everything, controlling their mind also, to get them into that fearless attitude — that is something to watch.'

Sooryavanshi in Focus With Kishan Ruled Out

With Ishan Kishan ruled out of the second T20I due to a groin strain, teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 15, is the frontrunner to slot into the playing eleven. Sooryavanshi was fast-tracked into the national squad after a stellar IPL season but has been on the bench since featuring in India's gold-medal winning Asian Games campaign. The only other batting option is seam-bowling all-rounder Shivam Dube, who would not be a like-for-like replacement.

Kotak was measured in his assessment, expressing concern about the intensity of public pressure on a teenager. 'He is young... I actually feel that he has a bright, bright future ahead. At the start, I felt there was a lot of hype that he should play. I genuinely felt that such hype is not good for a player as well, for a young 15-16-year-old boy,' he said. Kotak noted, however, that Sooryavanshi had since matured and accepted the competition for places without complaint.

On the field, the coach said he had no intention of altering the youngster's natural game. 'The way he approaches the game, I wouldn't change that, unless such a situation comes up where it becomes a must. Vaibhav's ability is so much that he doesn't struggle as often,' Kotak said.

Series Roadmap

The second T20I will also be played at the Hagley Oval, Christchurch, before the series moves to Wellington on 27 October, Auckland on 30 October, and Hamilton on 1 November. The five-match T20I series will be followed by five ODIs and two Tests.