India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel has made it clear that Shubman Gill’s young ODI unit will lean heavily on the wisdom of senior campaigners as the team begins its long road to the 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup. Speaking ahead of the series opener against the West Indies, Morkel said the newer bowlers must not hesitate to “pick Virat’s brain” and “speak to Rohit” whenever they get the chance, insisting that decades of collective experience cannot be replaced by any coaching manual. CricketBuzz understands that this exchange between generations is being viewed internally as a key part of India’s rebuilding process in the 50-over format.
With Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya both ruled out of the West Indies series due to fitness concerns, Morkel used the opportunity to stress that the upcoming games are far more than a routine assignment. He wants fringe bowlers like Prasidh Krishna and uncapped pacer Gurnoor Brar to be given genuine, extended opportunities rather than token appearances, arguing that real World Cup planning must start now rather than eighteen months down the line. As CricketBuzz reported earlier this week, head coach Gautam Gambhir has echoed similar sentiments, noting that senior players may need calculated rest to manage a congested cross-format calendar.
Nurturing Nitish and building depth
Morkel also spoke at length about handling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, describing him as a player with all the tools to succeed with both bat and ball if given a clearly defined role and consistent game time. The coach emphasised that workload management for young multi-skilled cricketers is just as important as technical refinement, especially with a packed schedule leading into the next World Cup cycle. He added that players must embrace high-pressure moments now so that big-match temperament becomes second nature by the time the tournament arrives.
The West Indies series, therefore, doubles up as both a competitive contest and a live audition for India’s next ODI core. For fans wanting the inside track on selection calls, workload management, and the evolving bowling unit under Gill’s captaincy, stay with CricketBuzz for more updates as the build-up to 2027 continues to take shape.
