Dhir’s selection makes more sense because India needs a finisher who can also bowl, and he brings more bowling than Rinku Singh has shown in 50-over cricket. India named a 15-man ODI squad for the three-match West Indies series on 16 September, and Naman Dhir’s maiden call split opinion while Rinku missed both white-ball squads. The criticism is understandable, given Rinku’s finishing reputation. Still, the selectors’ logic holds up better than most headlines admit, especially with key all-rounders unavailable for this series.
Selectors Face a Thin Finishing Window
The BCCI listed names without explaining individual picks, but the context fills the gap. Hardik Pandya is reportedly battling another injury, and Axar Patel and Washington Sundar are with the T20I squad at the Asian Games in Japan.
Nitish Kumar Reddy was pulled from that T20I group to join the ODIs instead. India have also rotated their lower order since 2025, with Axar at No. 5 and KL Rahul at No. 6 during the Champions Trophy. Reddy offers seam, which leaves a spin-bowling slot in the lower order open. After this series come five ODIs in New Zealand and three at home against Sri Lanka. Trial time before the World Cup is scarce, so every untested option needs a look now.
Punjab All-Rounder’s Domestic and IPL Case
Dhir’s List A record reads 351 runs in 14 matches at 39.00, with a strike rate of 106.36, four fifties and seven wickets. That’s a small sample, and critics argue he has shown little in 50-over cricket so far.
Two things push back hard. He led Amritsar Soormas to the Sher-e-Punjab T20 League title, scoring 655 runs at 72.78 with a strike rate of 217.61, including 173 off 64 balls. That’s T20 form rather than 50-over proof, but it shows a batter who can clear the ropes on demand. His IPL death-overs strike rate for Mumbai Indians is 221.59 across 88 balls. He has also batted at Nos. 3, 6 and 7 in the IPL, and that flexibility suits a squad that keeps reshuffling.
Rinku Singh’s ODI Case Stalled on Fit
Rinku Singh’s ODI career amounts to two matches, both against South Africa in December 2023. He made 55 runs at 27.50 with a best of 38, and bowled six balls for one wicket. His domestic form is strong. He hit 408 runs in seven Vijay Hazare Trophy group games in 2025-26, with an average and strike rate both above 135, including an unbeaten 106 against Chandigarh. That’s the kind of run that usually forces a recall.
Uttar Pradesh then lost the quarter-final to Saurashtra by 17 runs. Before IPL 2026, his strike rate in overs 17-20 was 197.71, but that’s T20 finishing rather than ODI evidence. The gap is about fit, not quality.
Player | List A matches | Average | Strike rate | IPL death-overs SR | Bowling option |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Naman Dhir | 14 | 39.00 | 106.36 | 221.59 | Off-spin (7 List A wkts) |
Rinku Singh | 71 | About 51 (Jan 2026) | 101.17 | 197.71 (overs 17-20) | Occasional off-break |
Naman Dhir IND vs WI 2026 call up
The most convincing reading is a finisher who can bowl off-spin, picked while Sundar is in Japan and Riyan Parag is injured. The BCCI hasn’t said this itself, but the squad shape points that way. Rinku also bowls part-time off-breaks. Dhir simply has more bowling on record, and seven List A wickets is more than a token. In a squad missing Sundar and Axar, that extra option carries real weight.
Reddy’s role is different. He is seen as a seam-bowling all-rounder who could back up Pandya at the 2027 World Cup, so Dhir adds spin rather than duplicating him. Picking both gives India seam and spin cover in the lower order without weakening the batting.
A Three-Match Audition Before 2027
Three games against West Indies let selectors watch Dhir at ODI tempo, building an innings before accelerating. His List A strike rate of 106.36 is the number to track. If he can bat through a middle phase and still finish strongly, the argument ends there.
Rinku can force his way back through Vijay Hazare runs, and his recent form suggests he can. For now, the Naman Dhir IND vs WI 2026 call-up is the smarter bet, because testing the untried option suits a calendar this thin.
Should India have backed Rinku’s domestic form, or is Dhir the right gamble for the finishing role? Share your view in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is Rinku Singh not in India’s ODI squad?
The BCCI gave no official reason for leaving Rinku Singh out. Analysts point to Dhir’s off-spin while Washington Sundar and Axar Patel are in Japan, and Rinku’s last ODI came in December 2023.
Who is Naman Dhir?
Dhir is a 26-year-old right-handed batting all-rounder from Ambala, Haryana. He bowls off-spin, plays domestic cricket for Punjab and represents Mumbai Indians in the IPL, where he has batted at Nos. 3, 6 and 7.
Is Naman Dhir in India’s ODI squad against West Indies?
Yes, Dhir is in India’s 15-man ODI squad for the West Indies series. The squad was named on 16 September, and he has not yet played an ODI for India.
Which IPL team does Naman Dhir play for?
Dhir plays for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. They signed him for ₹20 lakh in 2024 and later retained him through the Right to Match at ₹5.25 crore.
When is the India vs West Indies 1st ODI in 2026?
The first ODI is on Sunday, 27 September 2026, at Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. Play starts at 2:00 PM IST, with the toss scheduled for 1:30 PM.