New Delhi: India Bowling Coach Morne Morkel Has thrown away his weight Rohit Sharma Amid growing concerns over the veteran opener’s form for the opener, he insisted there was “nothing to worry about” and expressed confidence that the former captain would soon find his rhythm again in English conditions.Ahead of the third ODI of the series against England at Lord’s on Sunday, Morkel dismissed concerns over Rohit’s scores of 11 and 26 in the first two games and said the challenging conditions faced by the opening batsman made life difficult throughout the series.
Morkel backs Rohit’s experience and composure
As speculation over Rohit’s ODI future intensifies ahead of the 2027 World Cup, Morkel highlighted the opener’s experience and the calming influence he has on India’s batsmen.“It’s hard work with the new ball in front. We’ve seen that throughout the series. The ball is moving. So batting in front, it’s not easy. No doubt Rohit will sort that out,” Morkel said.“He has done it in the past. He is experienced and he just brings calmness to the batting line-up. So, there is no doubt that the way he does it there is no need for worry and worry at all,” he added.His comments come after Rohit’s poor performances in the opening two ODIs reignited debate over whether India should start planning for the veteran opener with just a year left before the next 50-over World Cup.
Batting unit told to adapt faster to home team
Defending Rohit, Morkel admitted that India’s overall batting needs improvement after failing to capitalize on a strong platform in the second ODI.Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer The foundation was laid but the middle order could not accelerate as India ended at 233 under par, allowing England to level the series with a four-wicket win.Morkel advised the Indian batsmen to respect the conditions at Lord’s before looking to dominate.“I think for them it’s just about summing up the conditions. We’ve found out recently that at Lord’s it can be a tricky pitch. So maybe give yourself an extra five to 10 balls just to get used to the speed of the pitch,” he said.He added that India’s experienced senior and middle-order know how to build partnerships, stressing that a sustained stance with bat and ball will be the decisive key.
Mid-wicket remains India’s biggest bowling problem
While Morkel praised the fast bowlers for their efforts in the last game, he admitted that India still need to be more effective in breaking partnerships in the middle overs.He said the pace attack executed the plan well, with Prasi Krishna and Gunur Brar in particular using the extra bounce effectively, but acknowledged England’s Joe RootAn unbeaten 99, showing the value of stopping the opponent’s easy delivery throughout the innings.“It’s crucial to get those wickets in the middle stages. We will continue to work hard to find ways to get those breakthroughs,” said Morkel. At the same time, Morkel also provided technical advice to the bowlers before crucial matches, warning against overloading the bowlers.
