"It's only fair to show faith and back your players": Morkel stresses faith in seniors amid debate over Sooryavanshi's India debut
Manchester, July 3
India bowling coach Morne Morkel has defended the team management's decision to delay Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's international debut, stressing the importance of backing experienced and in-form players in the current setup.
Morkel pointed to Abhishek Sharma's status as India's leading T20 batter and Sanju Samson's standout role as Player of the World Cup.
"I think we just need to respect the fact that we've got the number one batter, or we had our number one batter in T20 cricket, Abhishek Sharma. You know, Sanju was the player of the World Cup," Morkel told reporters ahead of the second T20I.
Morkel acknowledged the excitement surrounding young Sooryavanshi but stressed that it is important to give confidence and security to the existing group.
"I think as a coaching staff, it's only fair to show faith and back your players. Yes, there's a young man knocking on the door, and it's exciting. But I reckon for not just those two players at the top, but for the rest of the group, it's a good sign that we show that we back you guys," he added.
He also noted that healthy competition for places is a positive sign for the team, but the priority remains backing proven players while gradually integrating emerging talent.
The Indian team is participating in the five-match T20I series against England. In the first T20I, India posted a competitive 189/7, powered by a rapid 59 off 24 balls from Abhishek Sharma and a composed 68 from Shreyas Iyer, with a late boost from Shivam Dube's unbeaten 42.
Following an early top-order collapse, Abhishek Sharma's aggressive innings turned things around before Shreyas Iyer steadied the middle overs. However, rain later halted play, ultimately leading to a no-result.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's refreshing to see a coach actually backing experienced players instead of just rushing young talent. The Australian team has suffered from constantly chopping and changing. India seems to be learning that stability breeds success. Good on Morkel for saying what needed to be said.
I get the logic, but there's something special about letting young talent debut at home against England. The crowd energy, the moment. Sooryavanshi has been smashing it in domestic, and waiting too long can kill momentum. Remember how we waited forever for players like Sarfaraz? Sometimes you've gotta strike while the iron is hot. Still, trust the process I guess. 🤷♀️
This is exactly what India need. Not every young player needs to debut immediately. The seniors have earned their place, and healthy competition will only make everyone better. Abhishek Sharma's knock of 59 off 24 balls in the first T20I proves why he's backed. Let Sooryavanshi learn from the sidelines, train with the best, and then when he gets his chance, he'll be ready to dominate. Patience pays in cricket.
Absolutely fair point from Morkel, but also a reminder of how ruthless Indian cricket can be. One bad series and suddenly everyone's asking for the next big thing. That said, the debate shows how strong our bench is. Having a player of Sooryavanshi's caliber waiting in the wings is a luxury. Hope the team management doesn't keep him waiting too long though, especially if we're experimenting in this series after the World Cup win.
J We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.