"Has Been A Bit Vulnerable": Dinesh Karthik Points Out Major Concern After 244-Run Loss To New Zealand

New Zealand's Matt Henry celebrates the wicket of India's Shreyas Iyer during the fourth ODI.© AFP

New Zealand bounced back in the ongoing five-match ODI series against India, and they did it in some style. Trailing 0-2, the Blackcaps got back on track with a dominating 244-run win over the visitors at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui on Friday. After being invited to bat first, the hosts posted 333 and then produced a sensational bowling performance to outplay India, who were being led by Shreyas Iyer in the absence of regular captain Shubman Gill. Matt Henry sent Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer back to the dugout in the very first over, and India failed to recover from the damage.

While speaking after the game, former India player Dinesh Karthik pointed out the middle-order woes in batting. This was not the first time that India struggled in a chase against New Zealand, as the visitors also fumbled in the first two ODIs before registering wins.

"We did get blown away, and I don't think that much could have been done about this game. But in all three ODIs, India's batting, the middle order, has been a bit vulnerable, and that is something India will look at. We have wobbled while chasing the scores that New Zealand have set. We got saved by rain in one game. In the first game, we looked comfortable until we lost a few wickets in a heap," Dinesh Karthik said during a discussion on Cricbuzz.

Former India spinner Murali Kartik said during the same discussion that the touring team needs to re-strategise.

"India gave away 333, so maybe they will also need to have a relook at the way they operated. We saw the short-pitch ploy by Gurnoor Brar, and he went for some runs. Is Kuldeep Yadav going to play the next game? What can he do to better his bowling? India will need to relook at, or have a think about, how they operate in the next game. If they win one more toss and decide to bowl again, what do they need to do?" he said.

India and New Zealand play the fifth and final ODI on Sunday, November 15.

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