Former Indian wicket-keeper bat Saba Karim has slammed India’s tactical decisions after the Men in Blue suffered a nine-wicket loss against England in the fourth T20I at the County Ground, Bristol, on Thursday.

Karim questioned the team management for promoting Shivam Dube to number five after the visitors had lost three early wickets. In the third game of the series, Dube batted at number eight and was demoted below Harshit Rana.

Meanwhile, Dube could only manage 22 runs off 23 balls at Bristol as he failed to change gears.

Saba Karim said on JioHotstar, “Our three wickets had fallen when Shivam Dube and Shreyas Iyer came to bat. Will Jacks and Adil Rashid bowled five or six overs against them. Will Jacks gave only 28 runs in four overs. When only three wickets had fallen, and we say we have depth in batting, where did our attacking plans disappear at that time?” the former India wicketkeeper-batter said.

Karim questioned Dube’s role in the team after India could only manage 158 runs on the board.

“At that time, only Shreyas Iyer was trying to play big shots from one end. You promoted Shivam Dube, but what was his job? His job was to go and play big shots. Why is Shivam Dube in the team? What is his role? His role is of a power hitter. How do you define a power hitter? Someone who comes in the last three or four overs and scores runs at a strike rate of close to 200,” he added.

The former Indian selector expressed surprise after Dube batted ahead of Tilak Varma in the penultimate game of the series.

“Tilak Varma’s role is to come at No. 4 or No. 5 and take the game forward, and to consolidate, if required, which Shreyas Iyer did. Tilak Varma’s job was the same. Why didn’t you send Tilak Varma up the order? The question is coming repeatedly as to what the think tank is thinking,” he observed.

The fifth T20I between India and England will be played at Rose Bowl, Southampton, on Saturday.