India maintained their flawless Asia Cup streak with a thrilling Super Over victory against Sri Lanka in the final Super Four match on Friday.
However, this hard-fought win highlighted several critical areas for improvement for Suryakumar Yadav’s squad as they fine-tune their preparations to defend their T20 World Cup title early next year.
Prior to Sunday’s highly anticipated final against Pakistan, India’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel, openly admitted that the team hasn’t quite achieved a fully ‘complete’ performance throughout the tournament.
He elaborated, stating, ‘We haven’t played our absolute best game in this tournament yet. Following each match, we’ve had detailed discussions about specific aspects where we need to improve and refine our skills.’
Morkel firmly emphasized, ‘Work remains to be done across all departments. We are definitely not a finished product, and we are well aware of that.’
During Friday’s match, India’s commanding total of 202 for five at the midway point appeared destined for an easy win. Yet, without the presence of the rested Jasprit Bumrah, the bowlers faced a severe test from Pathum Nissanka’s aggressive batting.
Reflecting on these challenges, Morkel noted, ‘The more opportunities we get to navigate tough situations, execute our plans effectively, and learn from those experiences, the stronger this team will become.’ He added, ‘While it can be frustrating from the sidelines when things don’t perfectly align, we always keep the larger objective in sight.’
With the final looming just a day away, Morkel stressed the paramount importance of ensuring the bowlers get adequate rest.
He concluded, ‘The most effective way to recover is through sufficient sleep and staying off your feet. It involves getting massages and preparing mentally for the significant challenge awaiting us on Sunday. It’s a quick turnaround, so approaching this intelligently will be crucial.’