Irfan Pathan Praises Naman Dhir's Selection for West Indies ODI Series

Irfan Pathan has expressed his admiration for Naman Dhir's unexpected selection in India's ODI squad for the upcoming series against the West Indies. Dhir's impressive domestic performance, particularly in the Sher-e-Punjab T20 league, has caught attention. Pathan emphasizes the importance of having a versatile player like Dhir, who can contribute both with the bat and ball. As India prepares for the series starting September 27, all eyes will be on Dhir to see how he performs in this crucial opportunity.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 20, 2026, 17:17 IST

Irfan Pathan Comments on Naman Dhir's Inclusion

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan expressed his thoughts on the unexpected selection of all-rounder Naman Dhir for the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies. He highlighted Dhir's impressive skills and noted that a player with his versatility in batting positions and ability to bowl off-spin has been absent from the Indian team for some time. Pathan shared these insights during an episode of 'Follow the Blues' on JioHotstar.

Upcoming ODI Series Against West Indies

India is set to face the West Indies in a three-match ODI series starting September 27. Naman Dhir's name stood out in the squad, especially after his remarkable performance in the Sher-e-Punjab T20 league, where he scored 655 runs in 10 innings, averaging 72.28. His achievements included two centuries and three fifties, with a striking strike rate of 217.61 and a top score of 173.

Pathan's Praise for Dhir

During the program, Pathan remarked, "I have great admiration for Naman Dhir; he possesses exceptional talent. His selection is not solely based on his domestic performances but also his bowling capabilities. A player who can bat in various positions and contribute with off-spin has been somewhat lacking in the ODI format. With Washington Sundar unavailable due to the Asian Games and Riyan Parag facing injury issues, I am eager to see how Naman performs if given the chance. His bowling skills will be particularly scrutinized."

Naman Dhir's Career Overview

In List-A cricket, Naman has participated in 14 matches, accumulating 351 runs in 11 innings with an average of 39.00 and a strike rate exceeding 106. He has recorded four fifties and his highest score is 97. Additionally, he has been a vital part of the Mumbai Indians (MI) batting lineup, scoring 318 runs in 14 innings at an average of 26.50, with a strike rate of 147.22, including two fifties and a best score of 57 in the current season.

India's ODI Squad for the West Indies Series

The Indian ODI team for the West Indies series includes: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Mohammed Siraj, Auqib Nabi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Naman Dhir.