Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has commended Naman Dhir for making noteworthy improvements in his bowling.
His remarks came following the third T20I between India and the West Indies in Indore, where Dhir took 2 wickets for 39 runs—dismissing Shimron Hetmyer and Kamil Pooran—to help the home team secure a 14-run victory and gain a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Making his T20I debut in the series opener in Lucknow, Dhir had returned with the figures of 3 for 31, claiming the crucial breakthroughs of Shai Hope, Romario Shepherd, and Shamar Springer.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin acknowledged Naman Dhir as an emerging off-spin all-rounder option who provides the Indian team with immense flexibility.
“He is not a regular frontline off-spinner, but there has been significant improvement in his bowling, and he is bowling fearlessly. I really like what he is doing. He is emerging as another option for India as an off-spinning all-rounder. He was a little expensive yesterday, but he picked up Shimron Hetmyer's wicket, which was a crucial breakthrough. Let's leave out Kamil Pooran's wicket, as that came towards the end after a big over. But, I thought he showed all the signs of a bowler who is ready to step up and learn,” Ashwin said.
Responding to the fact that Dhir leaked a few runs in the third T20I, Ashwin defended the youngster by highlighting a unique architectural trait of the Holkar Stadium. He explained that because the pitch square is slightly elevated relative to the outfield and the bowler's run-up area, it disrupts a bowler's usual front-foot landing timing, naturally causing them to deliver the ball slightly fuller than intended.
Ashwin concluded that despite these technical challenges, Dhir has shown signs of his readiness to step up and willingness to learn.
“He made a few execution errors yesterday, bowling slightly fuller than intended. That happens to bowlers. You don't find the right length every day, in every condition or at every ground. Quite often, because of the ground conditions, the pitch may be slightly elevated, which affects your length. In Indore, the bowler's run-up will be on a lower level while the pitch is elevated. In those conditions, your front-foot landing might not be timed properly, causing you to pitch the ball slightly fuller. The more he bowls in different conditions, the more he will learn naturally. However, he is willing to learn and is showing that as well,” Ashwin remarked.
