Gautam Gambhir has indicated that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi may have to wait before receiving another India call-up. Ahead of the opening T20I against the West Indies bowling coach Morne Morkel backed that approach while stressing that the 15 years old’s temporary absence from the senior side should not be viewed as a setback to his progress.
How can spending time in the Indian setup benefit Sooryavanshi?
Morne Morkel feels that spending time within the Indian setup can itself be a major learning experience for Sooryavanshi. Training with senior players and watching their preparation and approach at the crease could benefit the teenager greatly even if he is not selected in the playing XI for Tuesday’s game in Lucknow.
What did Morne Morkel say about Sooryavanshi’s development?
‘We all know the talent of Vaibhav. I think the more time he spends in this environment, with quality players, the more time he trains at this standard, it will only be great for his cricket,’ Morkel said on Monday.
Why did Sooryavanshi’s Asian Games performance not guarantee a starting spot?
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has returned from the Asian Games with his credentials further enhanced. The young opener made an impact in Nagoya hitting 38 from 21 deliveries against Sri Lanka in the semi-final before scoring 15 off nine balls in the gold-medal clash with Pakistan. However those efforts have not changed Gautam Gambhir’s view that India should avoid making a rushed change to the established opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson.
What is Gautam Gambhir’s view on team selection and social-media buzz?
Gautam Gambhir had previously stated that Vaibhav would need to be patient as India could not overlook an opening partnership that had produced reliable results over an extended period. He also made it clear that team selection should not be influenced by social-media buzz but should instead be based on the combination the coach and captain consider most capable of securing victory.
How did Sooryavanshi fare during the T20I series against Afghanistan?
Prior to the Asian Games, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi remained among the substitutes throughout India’s three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in New Delhi without featuring in any of the games. Morne Morkel however believes the teenager can still gain valuable lessons from being part of the squad even on days when he does not get the chance to bat.
How does Morkel view the value of being in the squad without playing?
‘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,’ he said.
What should Sooryavanshi observe while sitting out?
‘Just actually watching how the guys go through their processes and how they set up innings will be key for him.’
How does Morkel encourage Sooryavanshi to learn from senior players?
Morne Morkel revealed that he has encouraged the youngster to closely study the senior players around him regularly asking Vaibhav what lessons he has picked up from watching their training sessions and batting preparations.
What question does Morkel ask Sooryavanshi on the team bus?
‘I always ask him on the bus, ‘what’s the one thing you’ve learned today? Tell me, what did you think about that guy’s batting?’ And that makes him think,’ Morkel said.
Why is the Asian Games XI not a template for the West Indies series?
Morne Morkel also stressed that India’s Asian Games playing XI should not be treated as a blueprint for the West Indies series. The team selected in Nagoya was chosen by the management overseeing that assignment while the present coaching group will pick its XI after assessing the conditions and requirements of each game.
How will the coaching staff decide the best team combination?
‘That’s the combination they felt for them at the Asian Games,’ Morkel said. ‘We’ll work out tonight here what is the best combination for us going into the series.’
Who will make the final decision on team selection for Lucknow?
The final call will be made by Gambhir, the captain and the selectors, with conditions at India’s home grounds also likely to play a role in shaping the team combination. Morkel added that the first task was to evaluate the players who have returned from the Asian Games before settling on the playing XI.
How will travel and fatigue factor into team selection?
‘We’ll all assess how everybody’s feeling after jet lag, after travelling, and then from there, make a plan,’ he said.
What should Sooryavanshi focus on during this period?
For the moment, the discussion around Vaibhav is not about his ability, but about finding the right time to bring him back into the playing XI. While Gambhir has urged the youngster to be patient, Morne Morkel’s advice is to use this period wisely, observe the experienced players absorb the lessons and make the most of being part of the Indian setup.
What does the Lucknow T20I signal for India’s opening slots?
With Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi all vying for the two opening slots, India’s selection for the Lucknow T20I could provide the first clue about how the team plans to handle the crowded race for places at the top of the order on home turf.