Photo via The Times of India

Naman Dhir makes T20I debut; Sooryavanshi left out as India opt to bowl vs West Indies

India’s T20I squad made its first major adjustment ahead of the series opener against West Indies in Lucknow, with Naman Dhir earning his international debut while teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was left out of the playing XI. Dhir, who had previously debuted in ODIs, was handed his T20I cap by teammate Arshdeep Singh before the match, marking a key moment for the young fast bowler.

Meanwhile, Sooryavanshi—who had just helped India win gold at the Asian Games—remains on the bench, waiting for his first home cap in white-ball cricket. The match also marked a milestone for West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein, who took the field for his 100th T20I appearance, adding to the experience of a side known for its batting depth and all-round talent.

India opted to bowl first, with captain Shreyas Iyer citing dew as a factor in the decision, while West Indies captain Shai Hope noted the challenges of chasing in Indian conditions. The Indian team featured five new faces from the Asian Games squad, though only Dhir, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mayank Yadav made the starting XI for the opener.

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