Morne Morkel Discusses Bowling Challenges Ahead of Final T20I Against West Indies

As India prepares for the final T20I against the West Indies, bowling coach Morne Morkel sheds light on the challenges faced by bowlers on flat pitches, especially with dew affecting conditions. He reflects on the high-scoring nature of the series and the difficulties of defending large totals against an aggressive batting lineup. Morkel emphasizes the need for skill enhancement to cope with these challenges as the series stands at 2-2.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 16, 2026, 21:51 IST

Bowling Challenges at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium

Morne Morkel, the bowling coach for India, emphasized the significant challenges bowlers encounter on flat pitches at Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. He pointed out that conditions worsen further when dew is present, complicating the bowlers' efforts. Morkel remarked that the previous two matches were played on drier surfaces, which provided bowlers with a 'slight opportunity' to implement their strategies.

He explained that bowling second on these flat pitches, especially with a wet ball, places immense pressure on the bowling unit, making it tough to manage aggressive batsmen and defend set totals.

Difficulties in High-Scoring Matches

Morkel's comments come during a high-scoring T20I series against the West Indies, where totals exceeding 200 have become increasingly hard to defend. Reflecting on the second T20I in Ranchi, where the West Indies successfully chased down a target of 250 runs, Morkel acknowledged the challenges of defending such totals against a formidable batting lineup.

He noted the complexities of bowling during the powerplay with fielding restrictions, emphasizing the need for India to enhance their skills and execution to adapt to these high-scoring scenarios.

Morkel expressed his apprehension even with a 250-run target, recognizing the potential difficulties in executing plans against the aggressive West Indies batting style, which he likened to a clearance sale where every shot is an attempt to score big.

He concluded by stating that defending totals during the powerplay is particularly challenging due to the limited number of fielders allowed outside the circle, and stressed the importance of continuous skill development to improve execution.

Series Update

In the fourth match of the five-match series, the West Indies triumphed over India by 24 runs in Hyderabad, leveling the series at 2-2. The final T20I is scheduled to take place at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on October 17 (Saturday).