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The India National Cricket Team will be up against the West Indies National Cricket Team for a five-match T20I series. This will be a blockbuster of a series as the first game is scheduled for Tuesday at the Ekana Stadium, Lucknow. Ahead of the first game, bowling coach Morne Morkel shared valuable insights on the team’s playing combination in the first game and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Shai Hope’s side will be looking for revenge against the reigning World T20 Champions, who defeated them in the three-match ODI series by a 2-1 margin. However, the Men in Blue have been in sensational form as they recently won the Gold Medal beating Pakistan in the final of the Asian Games 2026 and will look to continue with red-hot form.
"I'm pretty sure": Morne Morkel on India's playing XI
While speaking to the media, Morne Morkel was asked about the playing combination of the team. He revealed that it will be decided by the captain and the head coach, as they will feel the right combination to win the game for the next World Cup, which is also the main focus for the side.
“I'm pretty sure, you know, Gautam will look to rotate. I mean, as I said, that is up to the selectors and the coach and the captain in terms of the playing XI or which playing XI will be the best to win a game for India in our next World Cup. And that has always been the main focus,” Morkel told reporters in the pre-match press conference on Monday.
"We all know that the talent of Vaibhav": Morne Morkel on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's talent
Throwing light on whether Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will play or not in the first game, Morkel said that they are well aware of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s talent. Morkel feels that the more Vaibhav trains with the senior side, the better it will be for the 15-year-old wonder boy as he keeps on sharing the dressing room with the experienced guys.
“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. And 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.”
“And I think with him sharing that sort of dressing room and talking through guys, just actually watching how the guys go through their processes and how they set up innings will be key for him,” said Morkel.
Morne Morkel reveals whether Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will play or not
Morne Morkel, further speaking on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, revealed that staying in the right environment is always crucial for the batter as they can observe better things. It is his job to make these kids learn and grow.
“And 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. So I always challenge them. I said, Watch what this guy is doing in training.”
“How does he face his first 15 balls? When we get to stuff, what sort of game plan does he come up with? And for any young player, whether he gets game time or that game time is a little limited, it's still our job to make sure these guys learn, grow, and ask questions. I think that for me is a fantastic growth sort of mind map,” he added.
