Deep Dasgupta urges India to fix bowling combination for England T20I series

Former India cricketer Deep Dasgupta has urged the team management to revamp its bowling combination following the T20I loss to England. He suggested benching a spinner to field a third specialist seamer, despite the risk to batting depth

New Delhi: Former India wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta believes India need to rethink their bowling combination following their defeat to England in the second T20I in Manchester, suggesting the team management consider fielding an additional specialist seamer for the remainder of the series.

Assessing India’s performance after England took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, Dasgupta noted that the current balance leaves the attack vulnerable if a frontline pacer has an off day. He added that India’s bowling resources become overly stretched when relying on just two specialist seamers alongside all-rounder Shivam Dube.

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“The main concern for India has been their bowling combination. When you go in with only two seamers plus Shivam Dube, and if one of them has an off day, you are left with very few options,” Dasgupta told JioStar.

He explained that the lack of a similar replacement in the pace department makes it easier for the opposition to seize control during the middle overs. “You don’t have a like-for-like replacement in the middle overs, and the opposition can target the weaker links. I think this is something the team needs to look at,” he added.

Dasgupta argued that India should seriously consider altering the composition of their attack by adding another specialist fast bowler, even if it means compromising elsewhere in the playing XI. “They should consider going with three seamers instead of two plus Shivam Dube,” he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator also questioned the necessity of persisting with a three-pronged spin attack, particularly in English conditions where seam and bounce are historically more effective.

“The other couple of questions the team needs to answer are whether they really need three spinners and whether they can afford to play an extra seamer,” he added.

Dasgupta acknowledged that strengthening the pace attack could shorten India’s batting lineup but felt the trade-off may ultimately benefit the side.

“That might mean they have to sacrifice a bit of batting depth. But in conditions where pace and bounce matter more, that could be a risk worth taking. So yes, some tough decisions need to be made,” Dasgupta concluded.

With the series finely poised, Dasgupta’s remarks underline the selection dilemma facing the Indian team management as they weigh batting depth against the need for greater flexibility in the bowling attack ahead of the remaining matches.