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'Don't Have That Kind Of Option' - Zaheer On Lack Of Batting Depth For India 

image-lpf413x7The interim team management will ponder over the existing combination (Twitter)

Zaheer Khan raised question marks on two critical missing cogs in the Indian T20I team's wheels as they approach the next game of the ongoing five-match series against Australia on Sunday (November 26) in Thiruvananthapuram. 

The former left-arm speedster underlined lack of batting depth and six-bowling option as two major issues for interim team management under coach VVS Laxman and skipper Suryakumar Yadav to sort out despite the highs of winning the first T20I in Visakhapatnam.

As India continue to build towards the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean & USA in the injury-forced absence of their premier allrounder Hardik Pandya, Laxman and Suryakumar have been left handicapped in finalising the team balance and overall playing combination. 

With Shivam Dube inspiring little to no confidence about his medium fast-bowling in the backup allrounder's capacity, India decided to take the field with six specialist batters and five bowlers, including utility No.7 Axar Patel. 

Zaheer Opens Up On Lack Of Indian Batting Depth 

While the combination helped India restrict the Australians to 208/3 in 20 overs in flat batting conditions before eventually succeeding in the run-chase, Zaheer is aware it is not sustainable for the team management to continue in a potential high-scoring series without a sixth bowler's cover and no capable No.8. 

Speaking in a discussion on Cricbuzz, the former player raised the topic whilst also giving a thought on why the team management is being forced to persist with the existing combination.

"I don't think they will look to change that in this series because you don't have that kind of option. If you are going in Shivam Dube's direction, then he will be your fifth or sixth bowler," Zaheer said. 

"Dube is better off being the sixth bowling option. So, that is going to make it difficult because then you are talking about Tilak Varma and Rinku Singh's spot," he added.

A win for India in the 2nd T20I will give them a 2-0 lead in the 5-match series.