Indian batter Hanuma Vihari was impressed with Naman Dhir’s performance in the ODI series against the West Indies. Dhir scored a crucial cameo of 30 runs off just 21 balls in the final game of the series at New Chandigarh.
Furthermore, the off-spinner returned with figures of 1-33 in 5.2 overs he bowled in the last match. When all the regular bowlers took a beating, Dhir conceded his runs at an economy rate of 6.30 in the series, which is the second-best after Kuldeep Yadav.
Meanwhile, Washington Sundar was withdrawn from the T20I squad and Dhir has been named his replacement.
“Naman Dhir is replacing Sundar. I thought he batted beautifully in that third ODI. He played a small knock but showed a lot of promise. His bowling was also decent. They are looking for an option who can bat and bowl. Whoever can bat and bowl in the top six, they will add extra value,” Hanuma Vihari said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Vihari wondered if the team management will continue with their strategy of playing Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi together, as they did in the Asian Games.
He added, “In the Asian Games, Abhishek and Suryavanshi opened. But the coach there was VVS. Here the coach is Gambhir. Will they go with the same? Or will Gambhir think that his strategy, his route, and his path is different. We have not seen the three (Samson) playing together under him. He gave Suryavanshi a break in the last series. Now the question is also who will play between Nitish Kumar Reddy and Naman Dhir? or will both play together and leave only three proper bowlers. If they look to play these two and Dube, they can get eight overs from all three but it will be a little risky.”
India will play a total of 10 T20Is in the next month and Vihari said there will be rotation in the top order.
He concluded, “They are going to play 10 T20Is in 25 days so there will be a lot of rotation at the top of the order. Abhishek, Sanju, Ishan, Vaibhav, everyone will get opportunities. Ishan batted at five in the Asian Games. Will he continue at that position here or will there be any change?”
India will take on the West Indies in a five-match T20I series, starting Tuesday.
