Gautam Gambhir to continue rotating India's T20I openers against WI: Morne Morkel

India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel has confirmed that the team management will continue to rotate openers in the upcoming T20I series against West Indies. Ever since Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earned his maiden call-up in the T20I side, the team management has rotated the three opening batters.

Samson opened the innings on the Ireland tour and the first and last T20Is in England, while Sooryavanshi played the three matches in between. The teenager again opened for three matches in Zimbabwe in the absence of the senior opener.

Later, Samson returned to open in the recent series against Afghanistan and was later demoted to number three in Asian Games 2026, where Sooryavanshi opened alongside Abhishek Sharma. The trend will continue in the five-match T20I series beginning on Tuesday, October 6, in Lucknow

"I am pretty sure Gautam will look to rotate them. 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,” said Morkel in the pre-match press conference.

Morkel also spoke about the impact of being in the Indian dressing room on teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, even if he doesn’t get a chance.

"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. I think, with him, sharing that dressing room and talking to guys, just actually watching how the guys go through their processes and how they set up will be key. So 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,’” he said.

Excited to see Prince and Mayank in action: Morkel

Morkel also said that he’s excited to see young fast bowlers Prince Yadav and Mayank Yadav back in action.

"They are both young and are still learning their trade. 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. Then they come back and we work on a couple of things. That is something we can try in the future to make better. I am excited to see how they go with this opportunity,” he added.