Former Indian batter Abhinav Mukund questioned India’s combination after the visitors suffered a four-wicket loss against England at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff on Thursday. Mukund reckons India should play a specialist attacking bowler in place of seam-bowling all-rounder Shivam Dube.

Dube was dismissed for a golden duck in the second ODI against England. Furthermore, Dube returned with figures of 1-32 in six overs he bowled.

Meanwhile, Ravi Bishnoi and Kuldeep Yadav are the specialist spinners in the Indian squad. However, Indian team management have backed the all-rounder duo of Washington Sundar and Axar Patel. Sundar could not bowl in the second ODI due to a hamstring injury.

Abhinav Mukund said on Cricinfo, “India’s combination in this entire series has been, let’s have the depth with the bat and we’ll use Shivam Dube as the fourth seam bowling option. I think India have to rethink that because you’ve got to pick up wickets. You can’t play a defensive brand of cricket with the ball and expect to pick up wickets in ODI cricket. You’ve got to have someone who makes the play.

“Now, you can see Jasprit Bumrah is trying to make the play but he is being played out. So you’ve got to get in another option who is an attacking spinner,” he added.

On the other hand, Mukund reckons Washington Sundar would not have made the difference if he had been available.

He added, “I don’t think India have used Washington Sundar as much, so I don’t think Washington Sundar would have made the difference. He would have bowled a few overs for sure and released a little bit of load on possibly Shivam Dube or Axar Patel. But, I don’t think he was the difference.”

The decider of the three-match series between England and India will be played at Lord’s on Sunday.