AUS vs IND 2025: 'There are limited games now leading into the T20 World Cup' - Morne Morkel explains Arshdeep Singh's absence in recent T20Is

Published - 05 Nov 2025, 12:26 IST | Updated - 05 Nov 2025, 12:46 IST

While Arshdeep Singh produced a match-winning spell against Australia in the third T20I at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Sunday, November 2, he wasn't picked in the playing XI in the two preceding games. In the Asia Cup in September, the left-arm speedster only played two matches, when Jasprit Bumrah was rested.

When asked about Arshdeep's irregular appearances in the shortest format for India, bowling coach Morne Morkel said that the team management is looking to gauge how the players are coping in pressure situations as not many games are left before the 2026 T20 World Cup.

“It is not easy. There will always be disappointment in terms of players and selection, but that is something at times that, as a player, is uncontrollable. For us, from our side, we just keep on asking them to work hard and try hard and be ready for when they do get the opportunity," said Morkel on Arshdeep during the presser ahead of the fourth T20I between India and Australia at the Carrara Oval in Queensland on Thursday, November 6.

"There are limited games now leading into the T20 World Cup, so it is essential for us to see how the players can react in certain situations under pressure; otherwise, it will be unknown to us. So it is a bit of playing those sorts of games and then still having the mindset to win the game of cricket,” Morkel added.

Arshdeep is India's leading wicket-taker in T20I cricket. He has picked up 104 wickets from 66 matches at an average of 18.56 and an economy rate of 8.39. The Punjab speedster won the Player of the Match award after finishing with figures of 3/35 in four overs in Hobart.

There have been various question marks also regarding the combinations the current Indian team has been opting for. The batting order, too, has been shuffled around a few times in the ongoing T20I series against Australia.

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“You need to have options available. I think every team, if you look across the world, is playing around with options,” Morkel said.