Daijiworld Media Network - Christchurch

Christchurch, Oct 24: Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik has urged the team management to include an additional frontline spinner for the second T20I against New Zealand, suggesting that pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar could bat at No. 8 to accommodate the change.

Speaking on Cricbuzz, Karthik said Bhuvneshwar had the batting ability to handle the No. 8 position, allowing India to strengthen their bowling attack. India fielded Axar Patel as their only frontline spin option in the series opener at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

Karthik believes Bhuvneshwar could perform a role similar to that of all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy by rotating the strike and contributing valuable runs in the lower order.

“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,” Karthik said, adding that the team management did not appear to share his assessment of Bhuvneshwar's batting ability.

Karthik also suggested that Axar should bat at No. 8, with Bhuvneshwar moving down to No. 9. He argued that Axar's batting could provide greater depth while an additional specialist spinner would strengthen India's bowling options through the middle overs.

India's bowling performance has been a concern for head coach Gautam Gambhir, with the team conceding totals above 200 in four of its last six matches. Three of those instances came during the recently concluded five-match T20I series against the West Indies.

India, however, began the New Zealand series with a four-wicket victory after successfully chasing a target of 226 in Christchurch. The win gave the visitors a 1-0 lead in the three-match series as they prepared for Saturday's second T20I at Hagley Oval.

Karthik's suggestion comes as India look to strike a balance between their batting depth and bowling strength ahead of the next encounter.