Pollard says there is a lot more for Naman Dhir to learn and achieve

Naman Dhir has been one of the standout performers for India in their ongoing T20I series against New Zealand, delivering back-to-back match-winning contributions in overseas conditions. The 26-year-old from Punjab batted at Nos. 6 and 7 and produced two audacious innings in Christchurch: an unbeaten 42 off just 15 balls at a strike rate of 280 in the first T20I, followed by a brisk 31 in the second T20I on Sunday at a strike rate of over 180.

After the second T20I, head coach Gautam Gambhir posted a picture of the match-winners on social media and captioned it ‘Boys becoming Men’, a nod to the younger players who stepped up in the Indian camp, including Dhir, Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy. The performances have reinforced the view held by the Gambhir-led team management and selectors, who had identified Dhir as a versatile option capable of filling the role occupied by Washington Sundar. India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak spoke warmly about the youngster.

“He is a power-packed player, he knows what is expected (of him) and he does exactly that, which is a great sign.” Kotak added: “It is too early, but I feel he is very promising. His batting technique, the way he builds his base quickly, the power he has, he is a very exciting talent.”

While Dhir has contributed useful overs with the ball in ODIs, he is yet to be used extensively as a bowler during the New Zealand T20I leg. Nevertheless, his batting alone has made him a key figure in India’s middle order on this tour.

What has Kieron Pollard said about Dhir’s development at Mumbai Indians?

Kieron Pollard, recently appointed as head coach of Mumbai Indians, has been closely involved in shaping Dhir’s game since the batter joined the franchise in 2024. The franchise retained him using the Right to Match card at the mega auction ahead of the 2025 IPL season, a clear signal of how highly they rate the Punjab all-rounder. Pollard spoke about Dhir’s progress, crediting the player’s attitude and work ethic as central to his rise.

“Naman has come a long way since he first joined Mumbai Indians in 2024. We saw the potential in him early on, and it has been encouraging to see how he has worked on his game, adapted to different roles and grown in confidence. He is someone who wants to learn, listens to the people around him and is willing to put in the hard work. That is an important part of a player journey. At the same time, we must remember that Naman is only at the beginning of his career. There is a lot more for him to learn, experience and achieve,” Pollard said, speaking to Cricbuzz.

Dhir’s development at MI has been shaped by his proximity to senior figures including former coach Mahela Jayawardene, former captain Rohit Sharma, and Pollard himself. He has also absorbed qualities from Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav by training alongside them in the MI environment. Dhir has been a regular presence at Reliance Corporate Park in Navi Mumbai, where MI officials say he would report for training throughout the year whenever he was not on state or national duty. One of the core lessons he took from the MI setup was fearlessness, a quality that Gambhir also champions in T20 cricket. Dhir himself has spoken about the balance he tries to maintain, and on Pollard’s specific influence.

“If I fear failure, then it is difficult to play those shots in that situation. Management has also told me that we will back you. Just go and express yourself, play your shots. But at the same time, there is a line between fearlessness and recklessness, which I should maintain. I speak a lot with Pollard and he helps me a lot with my batting and mental conditioning. He always advises me to stay away from the outside noise,” Dhir said, via the aforementioned source.

How does Pollard view MI’s responsibility towards Dhir going forward?

Pollard was equally clear about the franchise’s duty to protect Dhir from undue pressure as his career gathers momentum. The MI head coach stressed that the environment around a young player matters as much as the talent itself, and that the franchise intends to give Dhir the room he needs to keep growing without placing excessive expectations on his shoulders at this early stage. He concluded with a clear statement of intent for the franchise.

“As a team, our responsibility has always been to give him the time, space and backing to keep developing, without putting unnecessary pressure or expectations on him. Being part of the MI family means knowing that you have people around you who will support you through the highs and the lows. Naman has shown that he has the ability and the temperament to grow into a good player and we want to help him build a long career, built on good performances with the bat and ball. So the focus is on creating a supportive environment and to give all the young players the encouragement they need, to take the next step in their careers,” Pollard said.