'Saw my name, couldn't process it' - Naman Dhir on his India debut

Punjab cricketer Naman Dhir made his international debut for India against the West Indies at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, September 27.

Ahead of the match, the BCCI released a video on social media in which Dhir spoke candidly about the moment he discovered he had been selected for the national side.

"I opened that post, and after that, when I saw my name, I couldn't process it for 10 minutes. I mean, I've been selected here. But yes, it was a surreal feeling. First of all, I called my father; he was very happy. He had a lot of emotions coming out," Dhir said in the video, quoted by The Indian Express.

What did Naman Dhir say about his cricketing journey?

Dhir's path to international cricket was far from straightforward. He represented Punjab in the Under-16s at an early age but then went without meaningful cricket for six to seven years before earning a breakthrough at the Under-25 level, which eventually led to a Ranji Trophy call-up. He reflected on what the debut means to him and the message he would send to younger cricketers.

"Every kid who starts playing cricket has a dream to represent India, and to play a match for India. So, I guess for me, it's still a dream come true. I feel like I'm living my dream. The old Naman was quitting at one point, but the new Naman will say that you should keep working hard with a pure heart," he said.

Dhir recalled that his journey revealed how he had an early success for Punjab in the age-group cricket but failed to follow it up; after 7-8 years, he got his chance again.

“If you're honest with your work and your hard work, you'll get a 100 percent result. I represented Punjab in the U-16s. After that, I didn't play anything for 6-7 years, till U-25s. After that, I got a breakthrough and scored runs in the U-25s, and then I was called up for the Ranji Trophy," he added.

Dhir's account makes clear that the years away from competitive cricket tested his resolve significantly, and his eventual return to the game through the domestic structure ultimately brought him to the national side.

How did the IPL factor into Naman Dhir's rise?

After establishing himself in the Ranji Trophy, Dhir's profile grew further through his participation in the Indian Premier League, which he identified as a turning point in his career.

"Then IPL came, and that's when my journey started. So, those 6-7 years were tough, but as I said, if you're honest with your work and your hard work, you'll get a 100 percent result," Dhir said.

Dhir's debut at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram represents the culmination of a domestic career that moved through age-group cricket, a prolonged absence from the game, a return through the Under-25 circuit, the Ranji Trophy and then the IPL before earning him a place in the Indian squad.