- Morkel wants Bhuvneshwar to “block the expectation factor.” “Make sure you have a really strong fan at home and get into the fan,” Morne Morkel jokes when asked if the Indian players will have to counter the strong Wellington winds. The three that count: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah are all smiling after dismissing Pat Cummins. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 3 in the absence of Ishan Kishan NZ vs India – New Zealand coach Rob Walter was dispointed as New Zealand fell short to take advantage of the opportunities during the first two T20Is. New Zealand head coach Rob Walter says the rotation of quicks is not a “perfect science” but is key for upcoming ODIs and Tests against India. Glenn Phillips prepares to take a catch, New Zealand v India, 2nd T20I, Christchurch, October 24, 2026. India’s return to Christchurch showed how three players are beginning to carry the burden of an irreplaceable all-rounder. Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy complete winning streak, New Zealand vs India, 2nd T20I, Christchurch, October 24, 2026. Kyle Jamieson will leave the T20I team after the third match and Blair Tickner will join the team for the final match. In three matches, Tilak Varma made an unbeaten 26-ball 51, New Zealand vs India, 2nd T20I, Christchurch, October 24, 2026. Half-centuries from Sai Sudharsan (91), Rathod (66) and Washington (51*) also helped India. A rebound Devdutt Padikkal scored a maiden century in only his third Test, Sri Lanka v India, 1st Test, Galle, Day 1, 15th August 2026 Harmanpreet Kaur congratulates Dee Sharma after her fifty, India v Zimbabwe, 2nd Women’s ODI, Vadodara, 25th October 2026 Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf added 89 for the last wicket, to claim victory, Pakistan vs England, Tri-Series, Lahore, October 25, 2026 Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf posted an incredible tenth wicket stand, Pakistan vs England, Tri-Series, Lahore, October 25, 2026 Harry Brook talks to his bowler Gus Atkinson, Pakistan vs England, Tri-Series, Lahore, October 25, 2026 Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf celebrate Pakistan’s incredible win, Pakistan v England, Tri-Series, Lahore, October 25, 2026 Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland leaves the stumps after keeping India at bay for 110 balls, Australia v India, 4th Test, Melbourne, Day 4, December 29, 2024 With series victory in sight, Rickelton says South Africa wants to secure their WTC title by beating the best and proving their credentials. Ryan Rickelton and Temba Bavuma revive South Africa, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 2, October 19 2026 SA vs AUS Test Newlands – Cameron Green available, preferred no.
- 4 or 5, but leaves the final decision for Australia. Green has not played since suffering an abdominal injury in the last ODI against South Africa on September 30 and he will not be able to play in the final Test. Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Australia have lost two of their last four Tests by overwhelming margins, and the lack of partnerships – or more than one batsman at a time – has hurt them the most. Travis Head struggled the most for Australia after the aftermath South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026. Lyon missed the starting XI for the third time in eight Tests Australia’s second Test but Ctain Cummins says his name will be “at the forefront” of discussions before decision-makers Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland leave the stumps after keeping India at bay for 110 balls, Australia v India, 4th Test, Melbourne, Day 4, December 29, 2024 A concussion, neck problems and low scores – Steven Smith will be in Newlands, where the Sandpergate scandal was the scene, want a change Smith’s neck required medical attention after surviving a close game in the 27th match, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, 21 October 2026. He returned to international cricket after four years and has taken its toll in both matches against New Zealand so far. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s much-awaited return to the Indian T20I team has not gone as well as expected so far.
- In the second T20I against New Zealand, the only wicket was of Daryl Mitchell.
Morkel wants Bhuvneshwar to “block the expectation factor.” “Make sure you have a really strong fan at home and get into the fan,” Morne Morkel jokes when asked if the Indian players will have to counter the strong Wellington winds. The three that count: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah are all smiling after dismissing Pat Cummins. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 3 in the absence of Ishan Kishan NZ vs India – New Zealand coach Rob Walter was dispointed as New Zealand fell short to take advantage of the opportunities during the first two T20Is. New Zealand head coach Rob Walter says the rotation of quicks is not a “perfect science” but is key for upcoming ODIs and Tests against India. Glenn Phillips prepares to take a catch, New Zealand v India, 2nd T20I, Christchurch, October 24, 2026. India’s return to Christchurch showed how three players are beginning to carry the burden of an irreplaceable all-rounder. Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy complete winning streak, New Zealand vs India, 2nd T20I, Christchurch, October 24, 2026. Kyle Jamieson will leave the T20I team after the third match and Blair Tickner will join the team for the final match. In three matches, Tilak Varma made an unbeaten 26-ball 51, New Zealand vs India, 2nd T20I, Christchurch, October 24, 2026. Half-centuries from Sai Sudharsan (91), Rathod (66) and Washington (51*) also helped India. A rebound Devdutt Padikkal scored a maiden century in only his third Test, Sri Lanka v India, 1st Test, Galle, Day 1, 15th August 2026 Harmanpreet Kaur congratulates Dee Sharma after her fifty, India v Zimbabwe, 2nd Women’s ODI, Vadodara, 25th October 2026 Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf added 89 for the last wicket, to claim victory, Pakistan vs England, Tri-Series, Lahore, October 25, 2026 Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf posted an incredible tenth wicket stand, Pakistan vs England, Tri-Series, Lahore, October 25, 2026 Harry Brook talks to his bowler Gus Atkinson, Pakistan vs England, Tri-Series, Lahore, October 25, 2026 Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf celebrate Pakistan’s incredible win, Pakistan v England, Tri-Series, Lahore, October 25, 2026 Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland leaves the stumps after keeping India at bay for 110 balls, Australia v India, 4th Test, Melbourne, Day 4, December 29, 2024 With series victory in sight, Rickelton says South Africa wants to secure their WTC title by beating the best and proving their credentials. Ryan Rickelton and Temba Bavuma revive South Africa, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 2, October 19 2026 SA vs AUS Test Newlands – Cameron Green available, preferred no.
4 or 5, but leaves the final decision for Australia. Green has not played since suffering an abdominal injury in the last ODI against South Africa on September 30 and he will not be able to play in the final Test. Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Australia have lost two of their last four Tests by overwhelming margins, and the lack of partnerships – or more than one batsman at a time – has hurt them the most. Travis Head struggled the most for Australia after the aftermath South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026. Lyon missed the starting XI for the third time in eight Tests Australia’s second Test but Ctain Cummins says his name will be “at the forefront” of discussions before decision-makers Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland leave the stumps after keeping India at bay for 110 balls, Australia v India, 4th Test, Melbourne, Day 4, December 29, 2024 A concussion, neck problems and low scores – Steven Smith will be in Newlands, where the Sandpergate scandal was the scene, want a change Smith’s neck required medical attention after surviving a close game in the 27th match, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, 21 October 2026. He returned to international cricket after four years and has taken its toll in both matches against New Zealand so far. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s much-awaited return to the Indian T20I team has not gone as well as expected so far. In the second T20I against New Zealand, the only wicket was of Daryl Mitchell. But he conceded 49 and 50 runs respectively in the two games based on his overs ratio, giving him an economy rate of 12.37, the worst among Indian bowlers.
“Block the expectation factor” is Morne Morkel’s suggestion, with the Indian bowling coach saying he asked the senior bowler to “just be yourself and connect with it”. “Look, I have great sympathy for his return,” Morkel said at a press conference ahead of the third T20I to be played on Tuesday. “The reason I say that is because, firstly, there will be a waiting period after four years.
He has done exceonally well in the IPL. He’s bowled really well. The first is to block the expectation factor.
“Secondly, I mean, before his selection there was a month of cricket where he did train, but it’s a whole different beast playing international cricket where the margins are slim. Due to the preparation schedule, he therefore had to arrive with limited training. “Bhuvneshwar is 36 years old and his last pearance in any format for India before the fifth T20I against the West Indies in Bengaluru earlier this month was in November 2022. But he forced a comeback after two successful IPL seasons, taking 17 and 28 wickets as his team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, won both titles.
“So the skills and experience are there. But ultimately we have to respect the game of cricket and you have to allow it to gain a foothold in certain games,” Morkel said. “And for me that was the message from the beginning when he joined the team, which was not to chase anything.
Yes, there will be expectations. But with every game you get better and with every game you find your rhythm. So let’s not think about the outside noise.
Just be yourself and connect with it. “Bhuvneshwar Kumar was back in India colors, India vs West Indies, 5th T20I, Bengaluru, October 17, 2026. In the two T20Is so far, both have swped their third fast bowler in Christchurch, India. Mayank Yadav bowled first with figures of 1 for 40 and was replaced by Prince Yadav in the second game with the bowler returning 1 for 30. “It was simply a tactical change that we felt was necessary at this location,” Morkel said.
“It’s no secret that Prince, who bowls first with his yorkers, is someone who executes it very well. And it kind of felt like – the lessons learned from the first game – we were playing second and the ball was wet, and given the size of the pitch, we were one of the guys with a high probability of hitting the yorkers. “I felt Mayank played very well in that first game.
So it’s definitely not a performance issue. But again, Mayank, for me, I think sometimes it’s good for such a young boy to play a game, give him a little time to think, to understand bowling, because he is still immature and still needs to understand a lot of things as far as reading and fielding an over. So I guess it’s not a bad thing for a little boy.
“And then of course Prince can play quickly again in all phases of the game. And its execution is only slightly superior. » In Wellington, where the third T20I will be played, Indian players will have to face another unknown: the strong wind. Unofficially dubbed the “windiest city in the world,” it’s windier than usual at the moment because the city’s waterfront was closed after cyclists were knocked off their bikes by gusts of wind.
Rain is also forecast on match day. “It’s a different beast, this wind. “I was at the hotel this morning and the whole building was shaking,” Morkel said, half-joking.
“So I think it’s going to be a new type of thing that we’re going to add to our books so guys can get used to it and get used to it quickly.” But yes, for us he is once again looking forward to this challenge and accepts it without any big excuses. “I think this wind can affect a lot of things.
It can affect the stick, your position and many factors. But as I said, you have a small window of time for a warm-up and training program that you can try now to understand how it will affect you. And then when it comes to playing time, you have to put that aside and really try to execute every pitch and make every ball count. “Either you will see it as a challenge, or you will see it as a negative, or it will dispoint you…”
And at the end of the day you need someone to put their hand up and play into the wind because we can’t have four guys playing into the wind. “Morkel himself has played two Tests at the Wellington Basin Reserves – Tuesday’s T20I will be played at Hnry Stadium – and had words of wisdom for players who have never been to this part of the world before. “I think we talked about Wellington, especially before the tour started. We’ve planted those seeds.
I spoke to some of the boys who were back in India last night and they asked me what the conditions were like. And I said, make sure you have a really loud fan at home and turn the fan on because that’s going to be your preparation,” Morkel said with a laugh. “But yeah, like I said, on my tour here with South Africa we had some opportunities to get used to it.
I don’t think you can get used to it in two, three or four days. So, like I said, this is how you present the big picture. “Either you will see it as a challenge, or you will see it as something negative, or it will dispoint you.
And hopefully we can get these guys in the mental space where they’re excited about this challenge. And at the end of the day you need someone to put their hand up and play into the wind because we can’t have four guys playing into the wind. “India leads 2-0 in the five-match T20I series after the two games in Christchurch. “Make sure you have a really loud fan at home and get on the fan,” jokes Morne Morkel when asked about India’s ability to counter the strong winds in Wellington. Bhuvneshwar Kumar scored 0 for 49 on his return to India, New Zealand vs India, 1st T20I, Christchurch, 22 October 2026. He returned to international cricket after four years and has been expensive in both matches against New Zealand so far. Ind 3rd T20I – Morne Morkel wants Bhuvneshwar Kumar to block the waiting factor | “Make sure you have a really loud fan at home and turn it on,” jokes Morne Morkel when asked about India’s ability to counter the strong winds in Wellington. “Make sure you have a really loud fan at home and turn it on,” jokes Morne Morkel when asked if India will counter the strong winds in Wellington
