‘One-day format is my favorite’ - Naman Dhir opens up on maiden ODI call-up

The BCCI announced a 15-member ODI squad on September 16, 2026, for a three-match series scheduled across Thiruvananthapuram, Guwahati and New Chandigarh. The squad featured established names including Shubman Gill as captain, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad and KL Rahul as vice-captain. Among the selections was Naman Dhir, who received his maiden ODI call-up after a standout domestic performance.

Dhir, aged 26, earned recognition for his recent domestic and T20 league performances. The batter was picked for a middle-order role in the squad that also included fellow maiden ODI call-up Auqib Nabi, whose selection recognised his county performances.

"The one-day format is my favorite. You have seen me play more T20s because my ODI debut came only about two years ago, and I have played more T20 cricket because I have featured in quite a few IPL matches. But one-day cricket is also my favorite format because you have to build your game and construct your innings, and you get a different situation every time. So, the one-day format is definitely one of my favorite formats," Dhir said in a video posted by Star Sports.

Dhir's stellar form in Sher-E-Punjab

Dhir's recent form in the domestic T20 tournament made a strong case for his selection. He led Amritsar Soormas to the title, with the team winning the final on September 13 against Ludhiana Lions. Dhir finished as the leading run-scorer with 655 runs in 10 innings at an average of 72.78 and a strike rate of 217.61, including two fifties and one century. He was named Player of the Tournament and also claimed seven wickets in nine innings with the ball at an economy rate of 9.41.

Dhir's List A record since his debut in December 2024 further strengthened his credentials. In 14 games, he has scored 351 runs at an average of 39.00 and a strike rate of 106.36, with four fifties to his name. He has also taken seven wickets in the format, demonstrating his value as a middle-order batter with handy off-spin bowling.