Naman Dhir debuts for India (Image: BCCI)
Naman Dhir Debuts as India Bowl First Against West Indies
Naman Dhir made his One Day International (ODI) debut for India during the opening match of the series against West Indies. Captain Shubman Gill won the toss and opted to bowl first. The match took place at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.
20-odd matches to go for the World Cup, so good for us to test the combination,” Gill said after winning the toss. The square boundaries measure around 65 metres on either side, while the straight boundary is approximately 74 metres.
West Indies captain Shai Hope also said his side would have preferred to bowl first, expecting the surface to improve under lights. Will come better under the lights, so want to chase,” Hope said. The hard surface should allow the ball to come onto the bat nicely, while the limited grass is expected to reduce lateral movement for the seamers, according to the pitch report.
Dhir has been handed his maiden ODI cap as India look to begin the three-match series with a win. The Indian team has also included Gurnoor Brar, while Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad and KL Rahul feature in the playing XI. “We’re gonna bowl first, looks like a decent surface. Will come better under the lights, so want to chase. We have got a decent combination, four bowlers and two allrounders. The pitch report suggested that conditions could favour the batters at the Greenfield International Stadium. The surface is made from black Mandya clay from neighbouring Karnataka and has a hard base with minimal grass covering.