Former cricketer Dinesh Karthik slammed the India team management for their repeated fixation with all-rounders and batting depth in conditions that demand more bowling firepower. The Men in Blue have named three all-rounders in their playing XI once again for the third T20I against West Indies at Holkar Stadium in Indore on Sunday, October 11.

India recently failed to defend a 250-run target in the second T20I in Ranchi, where the all-rounders struggled with the ball considerably. Skipper Shreyas Iyer confirmed multiple changes, with Nitish Kumar Reddy and Prince Yadav coming in, but the combination largely remains the same, with Axar Patel coming in at No.8.

Dinesh Karthik questioned why India are obsessed with having a batting option at No.8 when they have flat pitches and an in-form batting unit.

“I don’t know if this is the right XI. When you are going for 200s constantly, why wouldn’t you play five good bowlers and back your top seven to do a job? Why do you need your No.8 to bat under so much pressure? Axar Patel is a decent batter. I feel you should go for solid frontline bowlers, and have Axar as the fifth bowler. Then Naman Dhir or Nitish Kumar Reddy can be the sixth bowler,” Dinesh Karthik said on Cricbuzz.

“If your fifth bowling option is them, then you are putting yourself under immense pressure. I understand the logic of constantly bat till No.8, but beyond a point, when you are seeing bowlers in front of you going for runs, why would you keep having that as your combination?” he added.

India’s No.8 has only had to come out to bat in three of the last 11 T20I matches. Axar Patel has faced only 69 deliveries in 15 matches since the end of the T20 World Cup 2026.

“Even 270-280 can be chased here” – Dinesh Karthik predicts another high-scoring affair in IND vs WI 2026 T20I series

The short boundaries and the usual flat nature of the pitch at the Holkar Stadium in Indore lead Dinesh Karthik to believe that no score would be safe. India has been put in to bat first again and faces the tough task of defending a score against an explosive West Indies batting unit.

“Even 270-280 can be chased here, it is that type of ground. Mishits go for sixes. Bowlers, as it is, have very little margin for error, and in this ground it is worse. Indian batters will give everything they have to put a solid score on the board. But I do hope there is something in it for the bowlers as well. Anything is possible in terms of the score; anything can be chased, and that is a fact,” Dinesh Karthik said.

Former India batter Ajinkya Rahane praised the changes that India made to the playing XI, suggesting that the extra pace might help their case.

“These changes were expected. Kuldeep, just because of the conditions, it is a small ground. Nitish Kumar Reddy coming in, gives the option of bowling and batting. Prince Yadav bowls good yorkers,” he said.

India lost an early wicket in the contest as Sanju Samson departed for just 3 in the second over against Shamar Joseph.