Can fast-rising all-rounder Naman Dhir solve India’s T20 conundrum?

India conceded another 220-plus total during the T20I series against the West Indies, which finished 2-2 after the fifth match was abandoned in Bengaluru on Saturday, while fast-rising spin-bowling all-rounder Naman Dhir produced a rollicking six-ball unbeaten 24 in the Garden City.

India have given up 220-plus totals 10 times in T20Is, with five of those occurring this year, including two in the recent West Indies series; in the second T20I in Ranchi the West Indies chased down a gargantuan 250 with nine balls to spare as Shai Hope plundered 102 unbeaten runs from 45 deliveries, and Hope followed that with a century in Hyderabad (102 n.o., 50b, 4x4, 9x6) when the tourists posted 247 for three and India were held to 223.

India captain Shreyas Iyer addressed the bowling shortcomings at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, saying: “The series result could have definitely been different if we had bowled well in the second and the fourth games,” and: “It’s the execution in which we were falling short. But credit where it’s due. They batted phenomenally.”

The form of India’s bowling has been questioned in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah; Bumrah has not played the last three times India have conceded 220-plus, and in the T20 World Cup semifinal England came within eight runs of chasing down 254 when Bumrah’s economy rate was 8.25 from four overs.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s inclusion after a gap of nearly four years is one option to address the attack’s fragility, and bowling coach Morne Morkel said India have been a tad hasty in changing plans while bowling, adding that the side would continue to be aggressive and retain their wicket-seeking mindset but that defensive bowling is an option they would do well to explore; the coaching staff also noted that taking the ball away from the batters’ strike-zone and bowling wide yorkers can curb belligerent batting.

The absence of pace-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya has compounded selection challenges; Nitish Kumar and Shivam Dube have tried to deputise, but as vice-captain Tilak Varma implied they still cannot command a place with either skill consistently.

A potential solution has emerged in Naman Dhir, whose rise as a spin-bowling all-rounder has provided a viable middle-overs option and who displayed a destructive streak with that six-ball unbeaten 24 in the Garden City.

India head into the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand without Jasprit Bumrah but with Bhuvneshwar Kumar recalled and Naman Dhir in form, presenting a fresh test of whether these changes can shore up the bowling unit.