What lies behind Naman Dhir’s debut haul?

Naman Dhir’s three wickets on T20I debut against West Indies made his little-used bowling the story. Across 42 men’s T20 matches, he has bowled only 12.4 overs. That is the scale of the surprise: India got wickets from a part of his game that has scarcely been called upon.

His recent Mumbai Indians appearances make the point more vividly. He did not bowl against Gujarat Titans, Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Lucknow Super Giants, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders or Rajasthan Royals. The ball stayed in his bag through those matches. India took it out, and he made the chance count.

The overs behind the wickets

Dhir’s three career T20 wickets have come in those 12.4 overs. In the past two years, his economy of 6.5 runs an over compares well with the men’s T20 bowling benchmark of 8.03. That gives India a reason to call on him again, while eight overs across that period leave the size of his bowling role unsettled.

The debut showed he could deliver when handed the ball in an international match. A regular spell asks him to do it repeatedly, something his T20 career has barely asked of him. Another outing would tell India more about that role than the wickets alone can.

The case made with the bat

Dhir has a firmer case with the bat. Across men’s T20s in the past two years, his strike rate of 161 stands against 130.4 for top-seven batters. His average of 28.5 also stands against 23.61 for that group. Those returns have been built across far more cricket than his bowling figures.

His recent Mumbai Indians innings against Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru show the job he has been doing: making runs without being asked to bowl. The debut gives that batter another way to help India. It does not yet turn the occasional bowler into someone who should carry an allocation of overs.

The next chance

India’s next match is the second T20I against West Indies on Friday. Our ratings place India first among ten men’s T20 teams, worth 39.65 runs a match more than an average side. Dhir’s wickets have given the captain a reason to keep his bowling available in that match.

He should get another spell when the innings calls for one. His batting has earned the longer look; his bowling has earned the next opportunity. For now, India should judge him as a batter and keep the ball near the top of his bag.