Naman Dhir takes 3 on debut as India bowl out West Indies for 171 in Lucknow

Naman Dhir took three wickets on debut as India bowled out West Indies for 171 in the first Twenty20 International of the five-match series in Lucknow on October 6, 2026. Dhir finished with figures of 3/31 while Kuldeep Yadav claimed 2 for 33 to help restrict the visitors to 171.

Sent into bat, West Indies captain Shai Hope began aggressively, hitting Mayank Yadav for four boundaries in the second over. Those boundaries prompted India skipper Shreyas Iyer to replace Mayank with Axar Patel in the third over, and Arshdeep Singh provided the first breakthrough by cleaning up Kamil Pooran with a pitch-up delivery.

The West Indies suffered a pair of setbacks in the sixth over: Shimron Hetmyer was run out attempting a single, and Axar Patel dismissed Rovman Powell with a pitch-up delivery after Powell tried a big heave. Sherfane Rutherford then supplied the middle-overs impetus, scoring 56 off 34 balls, including two sixes off Kuldeep in the ninth over and two boundaries and a six off Axar in the 11th over.

Hope, who supported Rutherford, made 52 off 37 before departing in the 12th over, caught at deep midwicket by Axar off debutant Dhir. Kuldeep subsequently trapped Roston Chase plumb in front as West Indies slipped to 114 for 5 in 12.3 overs.

After Romario Shepherd cleared deep square leg for a maximum, Dhir returned to claim a wicket that was taken at long-off by Tilak Varma. Ishan Kishan held a notable catch at deep mid-wicket off Kuldeep to remove Rutherford, and Dhir later had Shamar Springer caught by Axar at the boundary off a toss-up delivery.

Returning from an injury lay-off, pacer Mayank Yadav struggled before taking a wicket in the penultimate over — recorded as Rutherford, caught by Dhir at deep square leg. Axar wrapped up the innings by dismissing Akeal Hosein, who was caught by Ishan Kishan at long on.

The match served as the opening T20I of the five-match series between India and West Indies.