‘Bowl according to the batter’ – Naman Dhir reveals Ravindra Jadeja’s advice ahead of 3rd ODI

Naman Dhir, the right-arm spin-bowling all-rounder who earned his maiden ODI call-up for the West Indies series, spoke to reporters on the eve of the third ODI in Mullanpur. India has taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, with the final match scheduled for Saturday, October 3 at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. Dhir has been preparing for what would be a dead-rubber encounter after the hosts secured the series.

Ravindra Jadeja, the experienced left-arm orthodox spinner and all-rounder, has been guiding the young cricketer through his international debut. Dhir spoke about the mentorship he has received and the practical advice being shared to help him develop his bowling craft.

“I have spoken to Jaddu bhai. He has given me simple plans to bowl according to the batsman. Like, I can bowl in an attacking manner if I have to get wickets, or if I have to contain the batsman, then I can have simple lines to bowl to them. The batting is always in my mind, irrespective of what the game is,” Dhir said in the pre-match press conference.

In the second ODI, Dhir registered figures of 0/38 in 6.1 overs when West Indies scored 405/7. The young all-rounder’s introduction to international cricket had come against a decent batting lineup, and he was working to develop his skills further. Dhir explained how he was applying Jadeja’s principles in his cricket, focusing on simplicity and adaptability rather than attempting complex variations.

“It was good that we won the match by chasing a huge total. As far as bowling is concerned, I had a big side while bowling to the right-hander, so I was using that. I was trying to bowl with simple plans and see what it would yield and not try to do anything on my own,” he added.

Also Read: ‘It will be a good total of 290-300’ – Naman Dhir predicts par score in 3rd ODI in Mullanpur, his home ground

Dhir said he started working more on his bowling since entering the IPL, particularly in the Mumbai Indians camp, where he had gained exposure to different match situations and bowling demands. This experience has helped him understand the nuances of international cricket and the importance of maintaining a clear bowling strategy based on match situations and opposition batters.