Aakash Chopra suggests dropping Naman Dhir for 2nd ODI, calls him 'not a bowler at all' if ball is wet

Former cricketer Aakash Chopra has suggested that India should consider dropping Naman Dhir for the second ODI against West Indies, scheduled for September 30 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. Chopra's concern centres on the heavy dew that typically settles under lights at the venue, which he believes would render Dhir's part-time bowling ineffective.

Dhir, 26, made his ODI debut in the series opener in Thiruvananthapuram in the absence of frontline spin-bowling all-rounders Axar Patel and Washington Sundar. India preferred him over a specialist bowling option such as Auqib Nabi or Mohammed Siraj to bolster their batting depth, with Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravindra Jadeja also featuring in the playing XI.

In the first ODI, Dhir bowled five overs and conceded 33 runs without taking a wicket, operating as the sixth bowling option. He did not get an opportunity to bat as India completed the run chase convincingly with eight wickets in hand.

Why does Chopra want Siraj in the XI for the Guwahati ODI?

Chopra argued on his YouTube channel that the dew factor at Barsapara makes it difficult to justify a part-time bowler in the XI. He pointed out that the toss outcome is unpredictable and that a wet ball would significantly limit Dhir's ability to contribute with the ball. Chopra also noted that Dhir is not currently being considered as a long-term option for the ODI World Cup 2027, which further weakens the case for his inclusion at Guwahati.

"Since you are going to a place where the toss is not in your hands, and there might be dew, why not play Mohammed Siraj? I have nothing against Naman Dhir, he bats well, but he is still just a part-time bowler. He is not a wicket-taking bowler, and if the ball is wet, he is not a bowler at all. In such a case, you should go with your full-fledged bowlers. Form is not an issue, so batting depth should not be an issue. As good as Naman Dhir is, he is not the right choice for the next match because of dew, and neither are you looking at him as an option for the ODI World Cup 2027," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

Siraj last played an ODI in January 2026 against New Zealand. He was withdrawn from the ODI series in England due to workload management and showed signs of fatigue in recent red-ball appearances against Sri Lanka and East Zone. Despite this, he was named in the squad for the West Indies series after Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh were included in the Asian Games 2026 campaign. Siraj has featured in only six of the 25 ODIs India have played since the start of 2025 and has gradually transitioned towards red-ball cricket, having been left out of the Champions Trophy 2025 squad as well.

What total does Chopra believe India need if they bat first at Barsapara?

The Barsapara Cricket Stadium has a notable record in white-ball cricket when it comes to chasing. Across the combined 15 white-ball matches played at the venue, including ODIs, T20Is and IPL games, teams batting second have won on eight occasions. The last time India played West Indies at this ground, they successfully chased down a target of 323 runs, which was also the first ODI hosted at the stadium.

Chopra stated that if India lose the toss and are asked to bat first, they will need to post a very large total to offset the dew advantage that West Indies would enjoy while chasing under lights. He identified this as a significant opportunity for the visitors if conditions fall in their favour.

"India can still win the match after losing the toss, let's be fair, but for that they will have to score 350. Score 350 runs, then defend with the wet ball. If you score less than that, then it won't happen. This is a golden opportunity for West Indies. If they lose the toss, they won't win the match. But, if they win the toss and there is a lot of dew, then there is a good chance for them," he concluded.