India fast bowler Arshdeep Singh is doubtful for the series-deciding fifth T20I against West Indies due to a shoulder injury, prompting the interim selection committee, headed by Pragyan Ojha, to add experienced pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar to the squad as cover. Arshdeep sustained the injury during the fourth T20I in Hyderabad when a delivery from West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph struck his bicep while he was batting towards the end of India's chase. The incident occurred on the final ball of the match, forcing Arshdeep to retire hurt. According to a statement released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), a final decision on Arshdeep's participation in the fifth T20I will be taken before the match, depending on his recovery. Bhuvneshwar Kumar Returns as Pace Cover Bhuvneshwar's inclusion comes after his recent recall to India's T20I squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand. The experienced fast bowler last represented India in November 2022 and has been working towards regaining full match fitness. The 36-year-old reported to the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru last week for a fitness assessment and has since increased his bowling workload in preparation for the New Zealand series. His most recent competitive appearance came in the UPT20 League in September. Bhuvneshwar's return to the national setup follows impressive performances for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) across successive IPL title-winning campaigns. In IPL 2026, he claimed 28 wickets in 16 matches, finishing second on the wickets chart behind Purple Cap winner Kagiso Rabada. India's Pace Options Under Scrutiny Arshdeep has played in all four T20Is against West Indies so far, taking five wickets. His potential absence could leave India with limited specialist fast-bowling options for the series decider. Apart from Arshdeep and Bhuvneshwar, Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav are the other frontline pace options in the squad. All-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy and Shivam Dube also provide seam-bowling support. Arshdeep is also part of India's T20I squad scheduled to depart for New Zealand on Sunday. His injury adds to the selection challenges facing the team management, with fast bowlers Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana also dealing with injuries ahead of the ODI series in New Zealand. There is also a possibility that some members of India's squad could be released early from the ODI series to prepare for the subsequent two-match Test series. India Squad for Fifth T20I Against West Indies Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Naman Dhir and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The final decision on Arshdeep's availability is expected ahead of the fifth T20I, with India awaiting an update on his recovery before confirming their playing combination for the series decider.

Sanju Samson has identified Tilak Varma’s dismissal as the turning point in India’s 24-run defeat against the West Indies in the fourth T20I in Hyderabad. Despite a strong batting effort, India failed to chase down the challenging target of 248 runs, setting up a series-deciding fifth T20I in Bengaluru. Chasing 248 on a relaid surface, India were struggling at 130 for five in the 12th over. However, Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy revived the chase with an impressive partnership, bringing India within 48 runs of victory from the final 19 deliveries. The momentum shifted when Romario Shepherd dismissed Tilak, leaving India’s hopes of completing the chase in jeopardy. Speaking after the match, Samson said, “The turning point of the match was when Tilak got out. We were cruising, scoring those 10-12 runs per over really nicely. Reddy and Tilak were batting really well in the pressure situation. Till that moment, I think we were in the chase.” Samson also praised the two young batters for handling the pressure after India had lost five wickets. He highlighted their ability to challenge the West Indies bowling attack and keep the team in contention during a difficult run chase. Samson Shines with the Bat Despite Defeat Earlier in the innings, Samson provided India with a flying start, scoring 56 runs off just 23 deliveries. His aggressive knock helped establish the foundation for the chase, but the Indian batter admitted that the defeat had taken away much of the satisfaction from his performance. “Whatever you do feels very different when you are on the losing side, so I am actually a bit gutted at the moment. I definitely wanted to be on the winning side,” Samson said. He added that chasing such a big target required him to trust his instincts and play his natural attacking game. Samson Backs India’s Bowling Talent When asked whether India were missing Jasprit Bumrah in the bowling attack, Samson described the experienced pacer as a once-in-a-generation bowler and stressed that there was no direct replacement for him. “There is no replacement for Jasprit Bumrah. He is a once-in-a-generation kind of bowler, and we are very lucky to have him,” Samson said. However, he expressed confidence in India’s emerging bowling talent, praising Arshdeep Singh for his consistent performances and Prince Yadav for his impressive bowling in recent matches. Samson believes that giving young bowlers more opportunities and backing them consistently will help them develop and perform better at the international level. Arshdeep Singh’s Fitness Becomes a Concern India also face a potential injury concern ahead of the series-deciding fifth T20I. During the final over of the chase, Arshdeep Singh was struck on his left shoulder by a short delivery from Shamar Joseph. Despite appearing to be in considerable pain, the pacer stayed on the field to face one more delivery before retiring hurt. Providing an update on Arshdeep’s condition, Samson said, “Arshdeep is putting ice on his shoulder. Hopefully he recovers soon.” India will now turn their attention to the fifth and final T20I, scheduled to be played in Bengaluru on Saturday. With the series on the line, the team will hope to bounce back from the Hyderabad defeat and deliver a strong performance in the decisive encounter.

With 501 runs scored in just 38.3 overs in Ranchi, India and West Indies head to Indore for the next T20I, where a batting-friendly surface and small boundaries could produce another high-scoring contest. India and West Indies are preparing for another potentially explosive encounter as the teams move to Indore for the next T20 International following a run-filled contest in Ranchi. With 501 runs scored in just 38.3 overs in the previous match, both bowling attacks will be under pressure to deliver a better performance at one of India's most batting-friendly venues. The Ranchi match witnessed a remarkable display of power-hitting, with 352 runs coming through boundaries. Both teams struggled to contain the opposition's batters, raising concerns about how their bowling units will cope with the conditions in Indore. Indore Pitch Likely to Favour Batters Indore has developed a reputation for producing high-scoring matches, thanks to its true batting surface and relatively small boundaries. Although no T20 cricket has been played at the venue for two years, its recent ODI record suggests that another run-fest could be on the cards. The last three ODIs played in Indore produced totals of 399, 385 and 337. The venue has also witnessed several impressive batting performances over the years, including Virender Sehwag's historic double century in 2011, when India posted 418 runs against the West Indies. However, the venue's record also offers some encouragement to bowlers. Every time a team has successfully crossed the 200-run mark in the four matches where that threshold was breached, the opposition has failed to chase down the target. Only two successful chases have been recorded in eight ODIs at the ground. Another interesting trend in the ongoing series is that all five matches played so far—three ODIs and two T20Is—have been won by teams batting second. With dew potentially becoming a factor during the evening, the toss could play an important role in determining the outcome of the next contest. Kuldeep Yadav Faces Key Battle Against Sherfane Rutherford Kuldeep Yadav and Sherfane Rutherford will be among the players to watch in the upcoming encounter. Kuldeep was India's only bowler to take a wicket outside the powerplay in Ranchi. However, he endured an expensive outing, conceding 53 runs in four overs while dismissing Rutherford. The West Indies batter also managed to hit two sixes off Kuldeep in just 10 balls, underlining the challenge facing India's wrist-spinner. The battle could prove crucial during the middle overs, particularly if West Indies lose Shimron Hetmyer early. Rutherford's ability to attack spin could once again test India's bowling plans. India May Consider Changes to Playing XI India are unlikely to make significant changes to their combination despite their defeat in Ranchi. However, the team management could consider bringing in Nitish Kumar Reddy in place of Shivam Dube to strengthen the batting options. India's decision to rely on only three specialist bowlers could also come under scrutiny, especially after dew made bowling difficult in the previous match. Axar Patel has enjoyed an impressive year, including with the new ball, but the Ranchi contest highlighted the difficulties of relying on a finger-spinner to complete four overs in every game under challenging conditions. India's Probable Playing XI Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (captain), Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Nitish Kumar Reddy/Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mayank Yadav and Arshdeep Singh. West Indies Likely to Retain Winning Combination West Indies could stick with the same playing XI after their victory in Ranchi. The team will look to carry that momentum into the next match, although its bowling attack will need to find ways to restrict India's powerful batting line-up. The Caribbean side has limited additional bowling options available, making consistency from its existing attack particularly important. West Indies' Probable Playing XI Shai Hope (captain and wicketkeeper), Kamil Pooran, Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Roston Chase, Shamar Springer, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph and Gudakesh Motie. Weather Conditions Could Influence the Contest Indore is expected to experience a high temperature of around 34 degrees Celsius and a low of 17 degrees Celsius on Sunday. The conditions could favour dew formation later in the evening, potentially making it difficult for bowlers to grip the ball. The teams will need to consider the weather alongside the pitch conditions when deciding their approach to the match. Key Stats and Records Ahead of the Match High-scoring thriller: The 501 runs scored in the Ranchi T20I rank as the second-highest aggregate in a T20 International, behind the contest between South Africa and West Indies in Centurion three years earlier. West Indies' chasing record: West Indies have recorded three T20I victories against India on Indian soil, all while chasing. These include their win in the 2016 T20 World Cup semi-final and their latest successful chase. Rutherford's impact: Sherfane Rutherford's aggressive batting against Kuldeep Yadav could again be a decisive factor in the middle overs. Indore's batting history: The venue has witnessed T20 centuries from Rohit Sharma, Hashim Amla, Cheteshwar Pujara, Shreyas Iyer and Rilee Rossouw, highlighting its potential for big scores. Bowling challenge: India scored at a rate of 14.06 runs per over outside the four overs bowled by Roston Chase, who conceded just 24 runs. West Indies maintained a scoring rate of 13.62 runs per over, with no Indian bowler managing to dominate their innings. With both teams coming off a high-scoring encounter, the next T20I promises another battle between explosive batting and under-pressure bowling. While Indore's conditions appear favourable for the batters, the venue's record of successful defences suggests that the team winning the toss may still need to make a careful decision about whether to bat or bowl first.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir has once again raised concerns over batting-friendly pitches in white-ball cricket, warning that bowlers' careers are at stake when conditions offer little assistance to them. His remarks came after India suffered a defeat against West Indies in the second T20 International in Ranchi, where the visitors chased down a target of 251 with nine balls to spare. The match witnessed a run-fest, with both teams scoring a combined 501 runs and hitting 33 sixes in 38.3 overs. Flat pitch conditions, dew and the relatively small boundaries made life difficult for the bowlers throughout the contest. Gambhir had expressed similar concerns earlier in Guwahati after India chased down 406 runs in the second ODI with 39 balls remaining. He reiterated his demand for a fair contest between batters and bowlers, stressing that bowlers deserve conditions in which their skills can make a difference. "You don't want a good bat-and-ball competition? What you want to see, that's also what we want to see. We also want to see an even contest," Gambhir said. "These bowlers are our bowlers, not someone else's bowlers. Their careers are at stake. They have worked hard to sit in this dressing room. If it's an even competition, we'll see a better game of cricket." West Indies Overcome Early Setbacks to Chase Down 251 India made an excellent start with the ball, reducing West Indies to 5 for 2 in the opening over before the visitors slipped to 58 for 3 inside the powerplay. However, Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford turned the match around with an outstanding fourth-wicket partnership. Hope remained unbeaten on 102 off just 45 deliveries, while Rutherford smashed 84 off 37 balls. Their partnership of 120 runs helped West Indies regain control before Romario Shepherd's unbeaten 34 off 13 balls guided the visitors to a comfortable victory. The win marked West Indies' highest successful chase in T20 Internationals and levelled the five-match series at 1-1. Despite the challenging bowling conditions, Gambhir insisted that India would analyse the defeat rather than use the pitch and dew as excuses. "You don't shrug off any defeat. If you want to keep improving, you don't want to put anything under the carpet," he said. Gambhir acknowledged the difficulties of bowling on a flat surface under heavy dew but emphasised that India must find ways to defend big totals. He also praised the West Indies batters for maintaining an aggressive scoring rate despite losing three wickets early in the innings. Gambhir Praises Mayank Yadav's Express Pace Fast bowler Mayank Yadav emerged as one of the positives for India, claiming three wickets for 36 runs in his three overs. Bowling regularly at around 145 kmph, he touched 149.5 kmph while dismissing West Indies captain Rovman Powell. Mayank also troubled Kamil Pooran and Shimron Hetmyer with his pace, dismissing both in the opening over. His performance earned praise from Gambhir, who urged the young fast bowler to rely on his natural strength. "He is a fast bowler, he should bowl like a fast bowler. He isn't a slower bowler. If you can bowl 150kph, bowl at 150kph, if you bowl at 120kph, bowl at 120kph," Gambhir said. The India coach added that Mayank's responsibility as a fast bowler was to attack with pace, and he was pleased to see the youngster achieve success by doing so. However, India could not maintain the pressure after the early breakthroughs, allowing Hope and Rutherford to dominate the middle overs before Shepherd completed the chase. Gambhir Defends Shivam Dube's Promotion to No. 4 India's batting innings also featured a slowdown between overs 12 and 16, when the team managed only 39 runs. The passage coincided with Shivam Dube's promotion to No. 4 ahead of Shreyas Iyer. Gambhir defended the decision, explaining that Dube had previously performed well in the role and that India would continue to maintain flexibility in their batting order. "We've used him like this for a long period of time, even at the World Cup and before that. It was not just a one-off today," Gambhir said. He acknowledged that India had lost momentum during that phase but pointed out that Dube had also helped the team accelerate in previous matches. Gambhir reiterated that India would continue experimenting with batting positions in T20 cricket, with only the opening positions considered fixed. India Look to Bounce Back in Indore Gambhir admitted that India had considerable work to do, particularly when facing a dangerous opponent after losing the toss in conditions that favour batting. "The bottom line is we couldn't defend 250. They batted extremely well. They deserved to win and we still need a lot of work to be done when you're playing against a dangerous team, especially when you lose the toss," he said. India and West Indies will now travel to Indore for the third T20I, which is scheduled to take place in less than 48 hours. With the series level at 1-1, India will look to address their bowling concerns and regain the lead, while West Indies will aim to carry forward the momentum from their remarkable run chase.

India batter Shreyas Iyer has made a huge jump in the latest ICC men's T20I rankings after his stunning maiden century in the format helped India defeat the West Indies in the series opener in Lucknow. Iyer surged 18 places to No. 7, the highest ranking of his T20I career. He smashed an unbeaten 102 off just 43 balls, producing a match-winning innings that propelled India to victory. Iyer is now the third-highest-ranked Indian batter in the T20I rankings. Ishan Kishan continues to occupy the top spot after scoring an unbeaten 37 off 27 balls, while Abhishek Sharma remains at No. 2 following his quickfire 21 off 10 deliveries. Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan, England's Harry Brook and Jos Buttler, and South Africa's Dewald Brevis are positioned between the top two and Iyer. West Indies batter Sherfane Rutherford was another notable mover. After scoring a 34-ball 56, Rutherford climbed 10 places from No. 47 to No. 37. Rashid Khan Regains No. 1 Spot There was also a change at the top of the T20I bowling rankings, with Afghanistan's Rashid Khan reclaiming the No. 1 position from Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed. Abrar, who finished with figures of 0 for 29 in the Asian Games semi-final and 1 for 29 in the final, slipped to second place. For Rashid, it marks the eighth occasion on which he has reached the summit of the T20I bowling rankings. The Afghanistan spinner has also spent more time at No. 1 than any other bowler in the history of the rankings. India all-rounder Axar Patel made a significant jump as well. After taking four wickets in two matches at the Asian Games and returning figures of 2 for 26 against West Indies, Axar climbed 16 places to reach No. 7. Bangladesh spinners Nasum Ahmed and Mahedi Hasan also moved up the rankings, with Nasum rising three places to No. 8 and Mahedi making a 10-place jump to No. 9. Shubman Gill Extends Lead in ODI Rankings In the ODI rankings, India's Shubman Gill strengthened his position at the top of the batters' table following his unbeaten 223 in the second ODI against West Indies. The double century, Gill's second in ODI cricket, helped him extend his lead over New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell to 47 rating points. Mitchell moved up to No. 2 after Virat Kohli slipped to third. Kohli had scored a century in the opening ODI but followed it with scores of 29 and a duck in the subsequent matches against West Indies. West Indies captain Shai Hope also made significant progress after his match-winning unbeaten 162 in the third ODI. The innings lifted him two places to No. 6. India wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul, who scored a century in the same match, climbed seven places to break into the top 10 at No. 10, despite his innings coming in a losing cause. Among ODI bowlers, West Indies pacer Jayden Seales entered the top 10 after taking three wickets in the third ODI against India. He jumped 12 places to reach No. 10. The latest ICC rankings reflect a strong showing from Indian batters, with Iyer's breakthrough T20I century and Gill's commanding ODI performances driving major movement at the top of both charts.

Shreyas Iyer smashed his maiden T20I century as India cruised to a commanding victory over the West Indies, extending their winning streak in T20 internationals to 10 matches. Chasing 172, India overcame an early wobble to race home in just 14.4 overs. Iyer produced a breathtaking assault at the end of the innings, scoring 57 of his final 18 balls and finishing with a spectacular unbeaten hundred. The West Indies had posted 171 after half-centuries from Shai Hope and Sherfane Rutherford. However, India's three-pronged spin attack played a decisive role, claiming eight wickets between them. Axar Patel set the tone during the powerplay with a double-wicket maiden. Kuldeep Yadav recovered from an expensive over to pick up two wickets, while T20I debutant Naman Dhir emerged as India's surprise hero. After being hit for a six, Dhir responded immediately with a wicket on three occasions, finishing with impressive figures of 3 for 31. Hope and Rutherford revive West Indies After losing the toss, West Indies were sent in to bat, with Shai Hope once again opening the innings. Hope, who had enjoyed a prolific ODI series, continued his excellent form and raced to four boundaries against Mayank Yadav in the second over. Arshdeep Singh then began to pull things back with a series of yorkers. His persistence paid off when Kamil Pooran played on, giving India their first breakthrough. Axar Patel then produced a decisive fourth over. Shimron Hetmyer was run out after his bat bounced up during a dive, while Rovman Powell was bowled after failing to connect with a straight delivery. West Indies finished the powerplay at 44 for 3, leaving India firmly in control. However, Hope and Rutherford mounted a strong recovery. Rutherford attacked Kuldeep Yadav with two sixes, while West Indies collected 18 runs from Axar's 11th over. With India forced to turn to their fifth bowler, Naman Dhir stepped up. Hope struck him for a six early in the over, but Dhir responded by slowing the pace and having Hope caught at deep midwicket. Romario Shepherd and Shamar Springer also fell to Dhir's variations as the debutant repeatedly responded to boundaries with wickets. West Indies, who had reached 100 for 3 after 11 overs, eventually finished on 171. India stumble before Iyer takes charge India's chase began aggressively but suffered an unexpected setback when openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson were dismissed by the West Indies spinners. Roston Chase and Akeal Hosein extracted enough assistance from the pitch to trouble India's top order, reducing the hosts to 36 for 2 after four overs. But the West Indies could not maintain the pressure. Ishan Kishan attacked Chase, while Iyer took on Shamar Joseph with a series of boundaries. India reached 62 for 2 at the end of the powerplay and appeared to have regained control. At the halfway stage, Iyer was batting on 45 from 25 balls, with Kishan on 25 from 16. India needed 70 runs from the final 10 overs. Iyer unleashes brutal assault What followed was a remarkable display of power hitting. Iyer suddenly shifted gears, smashing six sixes in the next 18 balls he faced. He tore into Matthew Forde during the 14th over, collecting 24 runs from it as India's chase turned into a procession. Kishan played the supporting role brilliantly, rotating the strike and allowing Iyer to remain on the attack. The right-hander eventually brought up his maiden T20I century with a series of clean, flat sixes, completing a remarkable turnaround after India's early setbacks. Iyer's explosive innings ended the contest with India reaching the target in just 14.4 overs, underlining their dominance and extending their T20I winning streak to 10 matches. For West Indies, the performances of Hope and Rutherford offered plenty of encouragement, but their lack of bowling options on a challenging Lucknow surface ultimately proved costly.

India captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bowl first against the West Indies in the opening T20I of the five-match series in Lucknow. It was Iyer’s 14th toss victory in 17 matches as India captain, while the West Indies were still waiting for their first toss win on their fourth international match of the tour. India made one significant change to their batting combination, opting for an extra specialist middle-order batter and leaving out young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The decision meant India moved away from the three-opener combination they had used during the Asian Games in Japan under stand-in coach VVS Laxman. Sanju Samson and Ishan Kishan retained their places alongside Abhishek Sharma, while Naman Dhir was handed another opportunity after making a strong impression on his ODI debut earlier in the tour. India went in with three specialist bowlers in Arshdeep Singh, Mayank Yadav and Kuldeep Yadav. The all-round options were Axar Patel, Shivam Dube and debutant Naman Dhir, giving the hosts additional depth in both batting and bowling. The West Indies, meanwhile, strengthened their T20 squad after losing the preceding ODI series 2-1. They handed a T20I debut to 30-year-old right-handed opener Kamil Pooran, who earned his place following a successful Caribbean Premier League campaign. The visitors opted for an additional seam-bowling option, with Shamar Joseph, Shamar Springer, Matthew Forde and Romario Shepherd included in the playing XI. Akeal Hosein and Roston Chase were the two specialist finger spinners. India Playing XI Abhishek Sharma Sanju Samson (wk) Ishan Kishan Shreyas Iyer (capt) Tilak Varma Shivam Dube Naman Dhir Axar Patel Kuldeep Yadav Mayank Yadav Arshdeep Singh West Indies Playing XI Shai Hope (capt & wk) Kamil Pooran Shimron Hetmyer Rovman Powell Sherfane Rutherford Romario Shepherd Roston Chase Matthew Forde Shamar Springer Akeal Hosein Shamar Joseph With India choosing to bowl first, the spotlight will be on the West Indies' revamped batting line-up and debutant Kamil Pooran, while the hosts will look to their pace attack and spin duo to make early inroads.

India’s bowling attack will face a fresh challenge when the five-match T20I series against West Indies begins on Tuesday, with Jasprit Bumrah absent and batting-friendly conditions expected to test the team’s young pace options. India bowling coach Morne Morkel believes the series will provide an important opportunity for fast bowlers Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav to continue developing as they gain experience at the international level. “They are both young and are still learning their trade,” Morkel said. “Sometimes the challenge is that you have them for a small window of time and then they go away. Although we keep in touch and stay connected, it is hard to keep your personal touch as a bowling coach on them.” Morkel added that the coaching staff would look to improve their work with the young pacers in the future. “I am excited to see how they go with this opportunity,” he said. Mayank looks to build on experience Tuesday will mark two years since Mayank Yadav made his India debut. However, injuries have restricted the express pacer to just five additional T20I appearances during that period. After returning from injury, Mayank showed encouraging signs during India’s T20I series in Zimbabwe earlier this year. Besides his raw pace, the 22-year-old has also worked on developing a slower delivery to add another dimension to his bowling. His variations were evident during the IPL, where he used a slower ball to outfox experienced batter Rohit Sharma. Morkel said Mayank’s ability to overcome setbacks and return to the international setup highlighted his attitude. “When you look at Mayank, immediately what comes to mind is his pace, his X-factor,” Morkel said. “For a young player to get through that and then again find himself in a situation to play for India just shows attitude.” Prince Yadav's rapid rise Prince Yadav has enjoyed a much quicker rise into the Indian team following an impressive IPL 2026 campaign. The young seamer impressed with his ability to swing the ball both ways, bowl effective short deliveries and consistently land yorkers. His dismissal of Virat Kohli during the IPL further underlined his ability to challenge top-class batters. Prince has since made six T20I and three ODI appearances for India. Morkel, however, admitted that the coaching staff has not had enough continuous time with either young bowler because of India's busy international schedule and split tours. “For me, Prince was a net bowler in the IPL a couple of years ago and is now playing for India,” Morkel said. “At the end of the day, you want guys in a squad or playing for India who have fantastic attitudes, who are keen to keep working hard, because those guys will deliver for the team.” Dube and Reddy provide extra bowling options India are also exploring additional four-over bowling options, with Shivam Dube and Nitish Kumar Reddy among the players who could be called upon to contribute with the ball. Morkel said conditions at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium, where the boundaries are relatively large, could increase the value of part-time seamers. “You never know, in certain conditions, the ball might grip a little bit more and it might suit one guy, and then they will become four-over bowlers,” Morkel said. He added that the team would assess pitch behaviour and boundary dimensions before deciding how to use its bowling resources. “We have got a luxury here that it is quite a big field, so these guys come into the conversation a lot more,” he said. Samson or Sooryavanshi to open? India also face a selection decision at the top of the batting order, with Sanju Samson and teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi competing to partner Abhishek Sharma. Sooryavanshi opened during India’s recent tours of the UK and the Asian Games, while Samson was used as an opener during the T20I series against Afghanistan in Delhi and the one-off match against Japan. Morkel suggested India could rotate the two players during the series. “I am pretty sure Gautam will look to rotate them,” he said, referring to head coach Gautam Gambhir. “The guys just came back from the Asian Games, so we want to see how everybody is feeling after jet lag, after travelling, and then from there make the plan.” Morkel urges Sooryavanshi to learn from senior players Even if Sooryavanshi does not feature in the opening game, Morkel believes the youngster can benefit enormously simply by being around India's experienced players. “If he is not getting that game time, he is still on a bus, in the dugout, in the hotel with guys with a lot of experience,” Morkel said. The bowling coach said he regularly encourages young players to closely observe how senior batters prepare and approach different situations. “I always challenge him. I say, ‘Watch what this guy is doing in training. How does he face his first 15 balls when the wicket is tough? What sort of game plan has he come up with?’” Morkel said learning from the dressing room environment can be just as valuable as playing matches. “For any young player, if he gets game time or if that game time is a little bit limited, it is still our job to make sure that these guys learn, they grow and they ask questions,” he said. He also revealed that he asks Sooryavanshi to reflect on what he has learned after training sessions. “I always ask him on the bus, ‘What is the one thing you have learned today? Tell me what you think about that guy’s batting.’ That makes him think, and I think next time he comes to the nets, the sort of things he will observe, he will adapt to his game.” India eye fifth straight win in Lucknow Sooryavanshi, Mayank Yadav, Prince Yadav, Naman Dhir and Nitish Kumar Reddy were the only players who took part in India’s optional training session on Monday. India have an unbeaten T20I record at the Ekana Stadium and will look to make it five consecutive wins at the venue when they take on West Indies in the series opener on Tuesday.