Indian team might make changes to its opening batting lineup; Suryavanshi will grow by being part of the squad : Morne Morkel

Lucknow: Ahead of India’s opening T20I against the West Indies in Lucknow, bowling coach Morne Morkel has advised young batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi to make the most of his time around the team’s experienced players and senior players, regardless of whether he gets an opportunity in the playing final XI. Morkel said the talented youngster would benefit immensely simply by observing how senior players prepare, approach their innings and handle the demands of international cricket. According to the coach, being part of the dressing room and interacting with established players can play an important role in Vaibhav’s development. “We all know Vaibhav’s talent. The more time he spends in this environment with quality players and trains at this level, the better it will be for his cricket,” Morkel said. He added that even if Vaibhav does not feature in the opening match, he can continue learning by staying close to the senior members of the squad. “He will still be around experienced players on the bus, in the dugout and at the hotel. Sharing the dressing room with senior players, speaking to them and watching how they begin their innings will be important for Vaibhav. Our job is to provide young players with the right environment so that they can ask questions, learn and progress,” Morkel said.

Vaibhav was part of India’s gold-medal-winning Asian Games campaign and featured in all the matches, although he was unable to make a significant contribution with the bat. With Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson expected to open the innings in the first T20I, Vaibhav’s inclusion in the playing XI remains uncertain. Morkel, however, did not reveal India’s final combination. Morkel also indicated that India could rotate players during the five-match T20I series, particularly considering the demanding schedule and the recent return of several players from the Asian Games. India have been involved in a packed T20 schedule since the IPL, featuring tours of Ireland, England and Zimbabwe, a home series against Afghanistan and a one-off T20I in Japan before the Asian Games. With some players having returned only recently, the team management is assessing their workload, fatigue and jet lag before finalising the playing XI. “I’m pretty sure Gautam will look to rotate. That is up to the selectors, the coach and the captain in terms of deciding which playing XI will be best to win a game for India on home soil. That will always be the main focus,” Morkel said. “Some players have just come back from the Asian Games. We’ll assess how everybody is feeling after the jet lag and travelling, and then make a plan,” he added. Morne Morkel stressed that while rotation could be a factor during the series, India’s primary objective would remain winning matches.

The bowling coach also expressed excitement about the return of young fast bowler Mayank Yadav, who is back in the national setup after recovering from injury. Morne Morkel said Mayank’s pace and ability to produce something different could give India an important X-factor. “Mayank Yadav is back from injury, so I look forward to seeing how he goes when he gets an opportunity. When you look at Mayank, the first thing that comes to mind is his pace and his X-factor,” Morne Morkel said. He also praised Prince Yadav, who has progressed from being a net bowler to representing India at the international level. “Prince was a net bowler a couple of years ago and now he is playing for India. The resilience and hard work he has put into his game to reach the international stage is admirable,” Morkel said. He said the journeys of both young players underline the importance of perseverance and the right attitude.

“Mayank has had a couple of setbacks with injuries, but for a young player to overcome those setbacks and find himself in a position to play for India again shows his attitude. At the end of the day, you want players in the squad who have fantastic attitudes, are keen to work and keep working hard. Those are the players who will deliver for the team,” he said. With a mix of experienced campaigners and promising young talent, India are expected to use the West Indies series not only to target victory but also to strengthen their bench strength ahead of the demanding T20 calendar.