Morne Morkel signals India may rotate squad for West Indies T20Is

Morkel leaves door open to changes across five-match series

India could rotate their players during the upcoming five-match T20I series against West Indies, bowling coach Morne Morkel said ahead of the opener in Lucknow. He indicated that the team would weigh its options after the players’ recent travel and workload, while making clear that winning remains the priority.

“I’m pretty sure Gautam will look to rotate,” Morkel said, adding that decisions on the playing XI would rest with the selectors, coach and captain. “The main focus” would be choosing the side best placed to win on home soil, he said, with the team first assessing how players had recovered from travel and jet lag after the Asian Games.

Young players in contention for opportunities

Morkel welcomed the return of Mayank Yadav, who is back from injury, and praised Prince Yadav’s progress from net bowler to India squad member. He described Mayank’s pace as an “X-factor” and said the resilience shown by both players reflected the attitude India wanted in its squad.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could also benefit if India makes changes during the series. Morkel said that, whether or not the youngster gets substantial match time, practising and spending time around experienced players could help his development.

“If you put guys in the right environment and they can ask the right questions and they can observe,” Morkel said, young players could learn by watching how established teammates prepare and approach their innings. He said he encourages Sooryavanshi to notice those details and reflect on what he has learned.