I’m pretty sure Gautam will look to rotate – Morkel

Morkel: India to Rotate Squad in T20I Series vs West Indies

India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel has indicated that the team will likely rotate players during the upcoming five-match T20I series against the West Indies. Speaking ahead of the opener in Lucknow, Morkel noted that while winning remains the primary objective, the quick turnaround following the Asian Games may necessitate changes to the playing XI.

India’s T20I squad has been in continuous action since the IPL, touring Ireland, England, and Zimbabwe, playing a home series against Afghanistan, and competing in the Asian Games.

Key Quotes from Morkel:

• On Rotation: “I’m pretty sure Gautam will look to rotate… In terms of the starting 11, the guys just came back from the Asian Games, so we'll assess how everybody is feeling after jet lag, after travelling, and then from there make a plan.”
• On Talent Pool: Morkel expressed excitement about growing the talent pool, specifically welcoming back Mayank Yadav (returning from injury) and Prince Yadav (who transitioned from net bowler to international player).
  • “Mayank Yadav, he's back from injury, so I look forward to see how he goes when he gets an opportunity… Prince, where he was a net bowler a couple of years ago, he's now playing for India. That resilience, the hard work he's put into his game to reach international stage is admiring.”
  • “At the end of the day, you want guys here that are in a squad or playing for India that have fantastic attitudes, that are keen to work, keep on working hard, because those guys will deliver for the team.”
• On Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: Although India is expected to revert to their first-choice opening combination at home, Sooryavanshi may get a look-in given the five-game schedule. Morkel emphasized the value of the environment for young players, even without guaranteed game time.
  • “We all know that the talent of Vaibhav, I think the more time he spends in this environment with the quality players, the more time he trains at this standard will only be great for his cricket.”
  • “If he's not getting that game time, he's still on a bus, in the dugout, in the hotel with guys with a lot of experience… just actually watching how the guys go through their processes and how they set up innings will be key for him.”
  • “I'm a big believer sometimes, if you put guys in the right environment and they can ask the right questions and they can observe… I always ask him on the bus, 'what's one thing you've learned today? Tell me, what did you think about that guy's batting?' And that makes him think.”