Dinesh Karthik proposes changes in England's playing XI ahead of the final T20I

The five-match T20I series between India and England is gearing up for an intense finish as the series is leveled at 2-2 after India registered a stunning victory by 8 wickets in the fourth T20 International. India’s veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik, who forms a part of the commentary panel for the ongoing series on Sky Sports, opined on the changes the visiting side should make in their Playing XI ahead of the series decider.

Karthik believes that England needs to drop David Malan, the number-one ranked batsman in the shortest format and should promote the all-rounder Ben Stokes up the batting order to Number 3. The keeper came to this conclusion after looking at the scintillating knock played by Stokes of 46 runs off 23 deliveries in the fourth Test.

Also, Dinesh believes that after dropping Malan, England should bring in wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Billings in the playing XI at Number 6 position. However, Karthik also reckoned that there will be hardly any changes in the England side as skipper Eoin Morgan is known for backing his players.

“If I know Morgan, he’ll stick to the same XI and make sure he gives them confidence. But, for me, I have nothing against Malan – I think he’s a good player – but I think Stokes should bat at No 3, with the intent he showed, the way he was taking on the bowlers. If it was Roy, Buttler, Stokes, with Bairstow at No 4 and Morgan No 5, that’s the way I’d look at it. That looks pretty solid to me,” Karthik said on Sky Sports.

Nasser Hussain opens up on England’s loss in the fourth T20I

Meanwhile, former England captain Nasser Hussain opined on the visitor’s loss in the fourth T20I saying that three left-handers in the middle order aren’t suiting the team as it becomes easy for the opposition bowlers like Shardul Thakur to tackle the left-handers.

“That middle-order needs looking at. Three left-handers going in one after the other, up against a bowler [Thakur], who finds bowling off-cutters to left-handers very easy. [Dawid] Malan at the top, using up deliveries, left the left-handers in the middle order with a lot to do against a good death bowler,” Nasser said after the game.

“When the two right-handed lower-order batsmen, [Jofra] Archer and [Chris] Jordan got in, Thakur couldn’t go to his off-cutter, he had to try something different and that threw him a little bit. England’s three left-handers, coming in one after the other, just gave the momentum to India, “ he added.