"If he’s not getting that game time...": Morne Morkel shares advice for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Dubai: India bowling coach Morne Morkel has backed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to benefit from being around the national team, even if the young batter does not get regular opportunities during the upcoming T20I series against the West Indies.

The five-match series begins on October 6 in Lucknow, with India looking to settle on their best combinations ahead of the matches. Sooryavanshi is part of the squad after impressing during the Asian Games.

“We all know the talent of Vaibhav. I think the more time he spends in this environment with the quality players, the more time he trains at this standard, will only be great for his cricket,” Morkel said at the pre-series press conference.

Morkel added that the 15-year-old can learn simply by spending time with experienced players, even if he does not make the playing XI.

“And 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. “Just actually watching how the guys go through their processes and how they set up innings will be key for him.”

Sooryavanshi scored 53 runs in two matches at the Asian Games while opening alongside Abhishek Sharma. However, Morkel did not confirm whether the pair would continue at the top against the West Indies.

“That’s the combination they felt for them at the Asian Games. We’ll work out tonight what is the best combination for us,” Morkel said, adding that changes could still be made.

The India bowling coach also pointed out how some of the players are still jet lagged and tired from their Japan trip. As fans have been backing Sooryavanshi to play more often, it is still unclear how frequently will he perform in the series.