Naman Dhir takes three on T20I debut as India bowl out West Indies for 171 in Lucknow

Naman Dhir took three wickets on his T20I debut as India bowled the West Indies out for 171 in 19.1 overs in the first T20I in Lucknow on Tuesday. The 25-year-old became the third Indian spinner to claim three or more wickets on debut, joining Pragyan Ojha and Axar Patel.

Dhir finished with figures of 3/31 from his four overs and was credited with playing a key role in India’s fightback after West Indies made a brisk start following Shreyas Iyer’s decision to bowl first. The surface appeared to offer plenty for the batters, which made India’s mid‑innings recovery more significant. India used five bowlers, with each of them taking at least one wicket during the innings.

West Indies began positively, with captain Shai Hope extending the form he showed in the preceding ODI series. Debutant Kamil Pooran made 12 off 11 balls before chopping an Arshdeep Singh delivery onto his stumps. Shimron Hetmyer was run out for five and Axar Patel then bowled Rovman Powell for a three‑ball duck, leaving the visitors 44/3 at the end of the powerplay.

Hope and Sherfane Rutherford put together a 63‑run stand to steady the innings, with Hope reaching a fifty from 36 balls. Hope fell for 52 on the very next delivery when he holed out in the deep, exposing the middle order. Roston Chase lasted only five runs before departing, after which Dhir removed Romario Shepherd for seven.

Matthew Forde made two as the visitors slipped to 124/7 in the 15th over, India having taken four wickets for 28 runs in the middle phase. Rutherford resisted at the other end, adding 36 with Akeal Hosein and compiling a counter‑attacking 56 off 34 balls before being dismissed in the 19th over. Hosein made 15 and was the final wicket as West Indies were all out in 19.1 overs, unable to bat the full 20 overs.

India’s bowling returns were shared: Axar Patel finished with 2/26, Kuldeep Yadav claimed 2/33, and Arshdeep Singh and Mayank Yadav took one wicket apiece. Dhir bowled with control across his four overs and struck at important moments to prevent West Indies from rebuilding another substantial partnership after Hope’s dismissal.

India will require 172 to win the opening match of the series, with their batting line‑up due to walk out on a pitch that has looked good for stroke‑making.