Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik has called for a change in the playing XI for the second T20I against New Zealand, urging the team management to field an extra spinner. Speaking on Cricbuzz, Karthik pointed out that pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar can be promoted up the order, as he is capable of batting at No. In the series opener in Christchurch, India went with Axar Patel as their only frontline spinner.
8, which would open up space for another spinner in the playing XI.
India’s bowling woes have been a headache for head coach Gautam Gambhir, who has been forced to chop and change the lineup more often than not.
“Bhuvneshwar Kumar can bat. In this game, he would have done the job that Nitish Kumar Reddy did, which is to rotate the strike and all, for sure. If they believe in what I say, which is that Bhuvneshwar can bat at No.8, they don’t believe in that right now,” said Karthik. Indian bowlers have conceded 200-plus totals in four of their last six matches, including three times during the recently concluded five-match series against the West Indies. India won the series opener by four wickets after chasing down a record target of 226, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
