The first match of the series had also witnessed a score of more than 200 runs. While the short boundaries and batting-friendly pitch certainly made things difficult for the bowlers, questions are being raised about what has gone wrong with India's bowling attack and how the team can prevent opponents from scoring heavily.
Former wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has an answer to these concerns.
Five 200-Plus Scores in Eight Innings
Before the five-match T20 International series against New Zealand, India had played an equally long T20 series at home against the West Indies. During that series, scores of more than 200 runs were recorded three times, raising similar questions about the Indian bowling attack.
The pitch was cited as a reason at the time as well. However, the reality was that the Indian bowlers were also struggling with their lengths.
In the first T20 International against the West Indies, India scored 171 runs. In the second match, the West Indies scored 252 runs while chasing the target. They went on to score 209 runs while chasing in the third match and 223 runs while chasing in the fourth match.
In the ongoing T20 International series against New Zealand, the visitors scored 225 runs while batting first in the opening match. They managed 180 runs in the second match and 198 runs in the third match, with both totals coming while batting first.
The fourth match saw New Zealand put up a massive 259-run total while batting first, marking another instance of the Indian bowlers conceding heavily.
India’s Deep Batting Strategy Is Behind the Bowling Combination: Dinesh Karthik
Speaking to Cricbuzz, Dinesh Karthik explained that India are currently playing with a strong deep-batting strategy, which allows them to chase down any target.
Karthik said India are giving opportunities to batters up to the eighth position and are confident of successfully chasing any score. He explained that the team has an all-rounder at number eight, who helps complete the quota of overs for the fifth bowler.
According to Karthik, Nitish or Naman Dhir are being used to complete those overs. He described this as a significant change in the team's approach.
Karthik further explained that the combination becomes different when India have four specialist fast bowlers and Axar Patel as the fifth bowler, or when they play three fast bowlers alongside Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel, with Naman Dhir or Nitish providing the sixth bowling option.
He said that when a team plays four specialist bowlers and relies on one or two all-rounders to complete the remaining four overs, it represents a completely different mindset.
India's current approach prioritises batting depth, with the team relying on its all-rounders to complete the bowling quota. Karthik's explanation highlights the strategic shift behind the team's combination as the Indian bowlers continue to face challenges in containing opposition scoring.
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