IND vs WIYou hit the six, and I’ll take your wicket" whether or not this is a standard philosophy for every cricketer, it has certainly become the mantra for Team India all-rounder Naman Dhir. This is precisely what he has been doing since making his T20I debut for Team India. On the 22-yard strip, he is emerging as a nightmare for any batsman who dares to hit a six against him.
We aren't saying this without reason; it is based on the pattern observed in the three T20I matches that have made up his brief career so far. It would be fair to say that, from now on, any batsman in the world will think twice or a hundred times before attempting to hit a six against him.
5 wickets in 3 T20Is: A recurring pattern
Indian spin all-rounder Naman Dhir made his debut during the T20 series against the West Indies. He played his first T20 International in Lucknow, where he claimed 3 wickets. Although he went wicketless in the second T20I in Ranchi, he took 2 wickets in the third T20I in Indore.
In total, he has taken 5 wickets across the 3 T20Is played so far. There is a common thread among the 5 wickets Naman Dhir has claimed: in every instance, he took the wicket on the very next delivery after conceding a six, and the batsman he dismissed was the same one who had hit that six.
First a six, then a wicket First T20I against West Indies
In the first T20I against West Indies, Shai Hope hit a six off the third ball of the 12th over, only to be dismissed by Naman Dhir on the very next delivery. Similarly, Romario Shepherd hit a six off the first ball of the 14th over but fell victim to Naman Dhir on the following delivery.
Likewise, Shamar Springer smashed a six off the fourth ball of the 16th over, only for Naman Dhir to send him back to the dugout on the fifth ball.
Naman Dhir Follows the Same Pattern in the Indore T20I
He employed the same tactic while claiming two wickets during the third T20I against the West Indies in Indore. In that match, just after the powerplay ended, Shimron Hetmyer hit him for a six off the fifth ball of the seventh over, only for Naman Dhir to dismiss him on the very next delivery the final ball of the over. Similarly, Kamil Pooran hit a six off the fifth ball of the eleventh over, and Naman Dhir claimed his wicket on the very next ball.
Opposing Batters Will Have to Think Twice Before Hitting Naman Dhir for a Six
A six followed immediately by a wicket—this is how Naman Dhir has claimed five T20I wickets so far. He is likely the first bowler to take five T20I wickets in this specific manner. All in all, it is clear that opposing batters will have to think twice before attempting to hit Naman Dhir for a six.
