Mumbai,Oct 28:
Mumbai Indians head coach Kieron Pollard believes India batter Naman Dhir has a promising future but stressed that the youngster still has plenty to learn and achieve in his career.
Dhir, 26, has impressed with his finishing abilities in Indiaâs ongoing T20I series against New Zealand, producing match-winning contributions in the first two matches. He scored an unbeaten 42 off just 15 balls in the opening game and followed it up with 31 in the second, helping India gain control of the series.
Pollard, who has worked closely with Dhir since he joined Mumbai Indians in 2024, praised the Punjab cricketerâs willingness to learn, work hard and adapt to different roles. He said the franchise had recognised Dhirâs potential early and was encouraged by his growing confidence.
âNaman 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,â Pollard told Cricbuzz.
The former West Indies all-rounder added that Dhir was still at the beginning of his journey and needed time and experience to develop further. Pollard said Mumbai Indians would continue to provide him with a supportive environment without placing unnecessary pressure or expectations on him.
Dhir has benefited from working alongside experienced players, including Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav, in the Mumbai Indians set-up. His recent performances for India have also highlighted his ability to deliver under pressure in the lower middle order.
Pollard, who was recently appointed Mumbai Indians head coach for the 2027 IPL season, said the franchiseâs focus was on helping Dhir build a long and successful career with contributions both with the bat and ball.