'Our middle-order has been vulnerable' – Dinesh Karthik on India's biggest concern ahead of series decider vs New Zealand

New Zealand set a target of 334 runs at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Friday, November 13, but India's batting unit collapsed dramatically. The team was bowled out for 89 in 26.4 overs, losing by 244 runs. This heavy defeat came after India had secured victories in the first two matches of the five-match ODI series, exposing significant weaknesses in the middle order that have persisted throughout the campaign.

Dinesh Karthik, the former India wicketkeeper-batter, identified the middle order as the recurring problem that has haunted India's performances across all three completed matches. Speaking after the Mount Maunganui loss, Karthik pointed to a pattern of vulnerability that requires urgent attention before the series decider scheduled for Sunday, November 15.

"We did get blown away, and I don't think that much could have been done about this game. But in all three ODIs, India's batting, the middle order, has been a bit vulnerable, and that is something India will look at. We have wobbled to the scores that New Zealand have set. We got saved by rain in one game. In the first game, we looked comfortable until we lost a few wickets in a heap," Karthik said on Cricbuzz Live.

The opening ODI saw India recover from 114 for one to reach 136 for five, eventually winning by five wickets via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method. In the second match, India again struggled with the bat but managed to secure victory by four runs with DLS adjustments playing a crucial role. The third ODI at Hamilton on November 10 was abandoned due to rain with no play possible, leaving India with a 2-0 series lead heading into the fourth match.

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The fourth ODI result at Mount Maunganui has now set up a decisive fifth match on Sunday, November 15. India will need to address the middle-order frailties that Karthik identified if they are to secure the series. The vulnerability in the middle order has been the consistent thread running through India's performances, despite the team's overall series advantage.