Dinesh Karthik urges Gautam Gambhir to add extra spinner for second T20I
Dinesh Karthik urges Gautam Gambhir to add an extra spinner by promoting Bhuvneshwar Kumar to number eight for the second T20I.
Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik has called for an extra spinner in India's playing XI for the second T20I against New Zealand. Karthik believes Bhuvneshwar Kumar can bat at number eight, allowing Axar Patel to move up the order and creating space for another frontline spinner.
Karthik said Bhuvneshwar can perform the role Nitish Kumar Reddy filled in the series opener. He argued that Axar should bat at number eight while Bhuvneshwar slots in at number nine, noting the pacer is a better number nine than number eight.
India won the first T20I by four wickets after chasing 226. The second match takes place at Hagley Oval on Saturday. India's bowlers have conceded 200-plus totals in four of their last six matches.
CricHubb Take
India's middle-order flexibility remains underutilised when conditions favour spin. The suggestion to promote a proven death bowler exposes a selection philosophy that prioritises batting depth over bowling variety in T20Is.