Team India's Strategic Vision: Morkel Unpacks Reason for Arshdeep's T20 Absence

Indian cricket team's bowling coach, Morne Morkel, has provided clarity on the decision to bench pacer Arshdeep Singh for the first two T20 internationals against Australia, explaining it as a deliberate, strategic move rather than a reflection on the bowler's performance. The move was part of a "bigger picture" to experiment with different bowling combinations ahead of the next T20 World Cup.Morkel emphasized that with a limited schedule leading up to the global tournament, the team management is keen on testing the squad's depth and seeing how various players perform under pressure. He stated that while Arshdeep is a "world-class bowler" and highly valuable for his wicket-taking abilities in the powerplay, the tour offered a crucial opportunity to assess other options.The bowling coach acknowledged that selection decisions can sometimes be disappointing for players. However, he commended Arshdeep for being an experienced professional who understands the team's long-term objectives. "Arshdeep is experienced and he knows that we are looking at the bigger picture and trying out different combinations," Morkel mentioned in a press conference The strategy is also aimed at managing player workload, preventing fatigue and potential injuries for key bowlers like Arshdeep who are regulars in the white-ball formatThis approach allows the team to build a versatile and match-ready squad, avoiding a situation where only a few players are overused. The plan appeared to pay dividends, as Arshdeep made a powerful statement upon his return in the third T20I, delivering a Player of the Match performance with an impressive three-wicket haul.