India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel discussed the decision to rest left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh, the team’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is, during the first two matches of the series against Australia.
He explained that the team is focused on experimenting with different bowling options while keeping a long-term perspective in mind. Arshdeep made a strong comeback in the third T20I, taking three wickets in his four-over spell, conceding 35 runs. His impressive performance, with two wickets in the powerplay and one in the death overs, earned him the Player of the Match award.
At the pre-match press conference, Morkel said, “Arsdeep is experienced. He understands that there is also a bigger picture where we are trying different combinations. He is a world-class bowler and has taken the most wickets for us in the power play, so we know how valuable he is to the team. But for us on the day, on this tour, it is also to have a look at other combinations, and he understands that.”
‘See How Players React’
Morkel acknowledged that team selection can be challenging for players but stressed the importance of testing various combinations ahead of the T20 World Cup. The management aims to assess how individuals perform under pressure. He stated, “It is not easy. There will always be disappointment in terms of players and selection, but that is something that, at times, is uncontrollable for a player. From our side, we encourage them to work hard, try their best, and be prepared for when they do get the opportunity. With limited games leading up to the T20 World Cup, it is crucial for us to see how players react in certain situations under pressure; otherwise, we will be unsure of their capabilities. It is a bit of playing those sorts of games and then still having the mindset to win the game quicker.”
India and Australia will face off in the fourth T20I at Carrara Oval in Queensland on Thursday, November 6. The series is evenly poised at 1-1 after the opener in Canberra was washed out.
(With inputs from Agencies)
