Morkel says Arshdeep’s omission was part of testing bowling combinations ahead of T20 World Cup.
QUEENSLAND
India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel shed light on the decision to rest Arshdeep Singh, the team’s top T20 wicket-taker, for the first two matches of the ongoing series against Australia, saying it was a strategic move to experiment with different bowling combinations in preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Arshdeep, who returned for the third T20I after sitting out the opening two games, made an immediate impact by taking three wickets for 35 runs, earning the Player of the Match award. His spell included two early breakthroughs in the powerplay and one at the death, reaffirming his value as India’s leading left-arm quick.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Morkel said, “Arshdeep is experienced and understands the bigger picture. We are trying different combinations to assess balance and adaptability. He remains a world-class bowler and our most successful powerplay performer.”
The former South African pacer acknowledged that team selection can be hard on players, but insisted that the management must explore all options. “It’s not easy — there’s always disappointment. But we want to test how players perform under pressure before the World Cup. That’s how we’ll know who can handle crunch moments,” Morkel explained.
Morkel also provided a fitness update on all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who missed the first three matches due to a quadriceps injury and neck spasms. “He completed his batting, bowling, and fielding drills today. We’ll assess his progress and decide soon,” he added.
India and Australia will meet in the fourth T20I at Carrara Oval, Queensland, on Thursday (Nov 6), with the five-match series tied 1–1 after the first game in Canberra was washed out.