India all-rounder Naman Dhir has revealed that he has been assigned a flexible middle-order role at No. 6 or 7, alongside the responsibility of bowling two or three economical overs when required, as he looks to establish himself in the national side.
Speaking on JioStar's 'Haier Cricket Live' after India's 14-run victory over the West Indies in the third T20I in Indore, Dhir described himself as a batting all-rounder and explained how his experience with the bat helps him read situations and anticipate opponents while bowling.
India's win gave them a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, with the fourth T20I scheduled for Wednesday, October 14.
"I am a batting all-rounder. I got an opportunity to bat in this game, but I am a bit disappointed that
I couldn't capitalise on it," Dhir said on JioStar's 'Haier Cricket Live'.
"However, it's not as if I don't bowl. The Impact Player rule in the IPL means I get fewer opportunities to bowl there, but I have been bowling ever since I started playing cricket, and I really enjoy it. "
Naman Dhir Explains His Role in India's T20I Team
Dhir said the team management had outlined his responsibilities, with his batting position dependent on the match situation and his bowling role focused on controlling runs.
"As far as my role is concerned, I have been told by the coaches and captain that I will bat at number six or seven, depending on the situation, so that role is flexible. With the ball, my responsibility is to bowl two or three overs economically whenever the team needs me," he added.
The role gives Dhir the opportunity to contribute in both departments, with his off-spin offering India an additional option in the middle overs.
## How Naman Dhir Uses His Batting Experience to Bowl Better
Dhir also explained how his understanding of batting helps him identify opponents' strengths and weaknesses. Rather than relying on a wide range of variations, the off-spinner said he focuses on line, length and changes of pace while looking for clues in a batter's stance and shot selection.
"As an off-spinner, I don't have too many variations, so I have to rely on my line and length and vary my pace. That has always been my thinking," he said.
"It helps being a batter because you understand the batter's stance, where his backlift is coming from, his guard and the kind of shots he can play. I keep observing these things when I bowl. "
Dhir pointed to his dismissal of Kamil Pooran as an example of how reading a batter can influence his plans. He explained that Pooran had been looking to play towards the leg side and create room to free his arms, prompting him to try to cramp the batter for space.
"I made a couple of errors in the first two deliveries. I knew I was bowling my third over, the batter was set, and with the run rate being high, he was bound to take a chance. And, ultimately, he got out playing exactly the kind of shot I wanted him to, getting caught at square-leg," Dhir said.
He added that small details and the ability to anticipate a batter's intentions remain central to his approach, even when a plan does not unfold exactly as intended.
Ian Bishop Praises India's Bowling Performance
Former West Indies fast bowler and JioStar expert Ian Bishop credited India's bowling attack for defending their total, highlighting the importance of their execution at the death and the absence of dew.
Bishop also pointed to the contribution of Prince Yadav, who returned to the side for the match, and Arshdeep Singh's ability to identify the right plans against the West Indies batters.
"The West Indies found a little bit of range with the ball after about over number eight through Roston Chase, then Springer, then Motie, but those runs at the back end by Prince Yadav proved crucial. Then we saw the yorkers," Bishop said on JioStar's 'Haier Cricket Live'.
"Arshdeep is the leader of the attack, and he sussed things out quite quickly, with a little bit of help from Naman Dhir. A critical factor, obviously, was that there was no dew formation. All in all, it's good to see the bowlers having a better day in a batsman-dominated series so far. "
Bishop said the West Indies would need to improve in the next match but maintained that India deserved their victory on the strength of their bowling performance.
Ian Bishop Highlights Abhishek Sharma's Game Awareness
Bishop also praised Abhishek Sharma for adjusting his approach against West Indies off-spinner Roston Chase rather than relying exclusively on an aggressive start.
The India opener had been dismissed by Chase earlier in the series, and Bishop felt Abhishek showed greater awareness by taking time to assess the bowler and the conditions before attacking.
"It was not only about the respect that Roston Chase deserved after dismissing Abhishek a couple of times earlier in the series, but also the fact that Abhishek needed to get himself in, take a few balls to get a feel for what Roston was doing and understand the conditions," Bishop said.
He highlighted how Abhishek manipulated the field by backing away to access the cover region after West Indies moved a fielder to deep point, describing the approach as evidence of the batter's tactical intelligence.
"The way he played the field was impressive. When the West Indies moved the deep point, he hit the ball through cover by backing away, then he manipulated the field. It's not just about skill; you still need brains to play this game," Bishop added.
Naman Dhir Focused on Enjoying His Cricket
Despite making his mark in India's third T20I victory, Dhir said he was not setting specific targets for the immediate future. The all-rounder prefers to focus on his performances and enjoy the game rather than look too far ahead.
"I don't function that way, by looking too far ahead. I don't have any specific goals as of now. I'm just playing my cricket, enjoying it, and wherever God takes me, I'll go," he said.
India will look to extend their lead when they face the West Indies in the fourth T20I on Wednesday, October 14. The match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network and streamed on JioHotstar frOm 7 PM IST.
