Gautam Gambhir Urged To Make Big Playing XI Call Amid India's Bowling Concerns

Dinesh Karthik has urged the team management to field an extra spinner in the 2nd T20I.© AFP

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. 8, which would open up space for another spinner in the playing XI. In the series opener in Christchurch, India went with Axar Patel as their only frontline spinner.

Karthik suggested that Bhuvneshwar can comfortably do the job with the bat for India at No. 8, much like Nitish Kumar Reddy.

"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.

While Karthik backed the inclusion of an extra spinner, he also felt that Axar Patel should bat at No. 8, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar slotting in at No. 9.

"He is obviously a better No.9 than a No.8, for sure. You would rather have Axar batting at No.8 and they are almost saying that they might not get wickets through the middle overs, but they still trust Axar to do the job," he added.

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.

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 and New Zealand will square off in the second T20I at Hagley Oval on Saturday.

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.

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