Post by : Mariam
Al-Faris
India received positive news on the fitness of Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, as both players continue to make good progress in their recovery. Bowling coach Morne Morkel confirmed that the team is hopeful of welcoming them back soon, although the final update will come from the medical staff.
Gill has been out for two weeks after suffering a neck injury during the Kolkata Test. Morkel said he recently spoke to him and was happy to hear that the young batter is recovering steadily. Shreyas Iyer, who has been missing since he injured his spleen during the Australia tour, has also begun his rehabilitation. Morkel described it as encouraging that both players are back to training slowly and preparing to return to the squad.
With Gill unavailable, his spot in the ODI lineup will likely be taken by Yashasvi Jaiswal. However, the bigger question is who will fill Iyer’s important No. 4 place in the batting order. Options include Rishabh Pant and Tilak Varma, both of whom bring different strengths. The final decision is expected to depend on form, fitness, and the team’s strategy for the series.
India enter this ODI series under high pressure, having lost five of their last seven Test matches at home—something extremely rare for the team. Morkel said the players have had enough time to think about what went wrong in the Tests and are now ready to reset their mindset. He added that a switch from red-ball to white-ball cricket usually brings a fresh atmosphere and renewed motivation.
Morkel also warned that South Africa have strong momentum and India will need to start well. He said a confident South African side can be very dangerous, and India must remain focused and disciplined from the very beginning of the series. With experienced players back in the squad, he believes the team can turn things around.
Two of those experienced players are Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who will be playing international cricket at home for the first time since retiring from Test cricket earlier this year. Both are believed to be aiming for the 2027 ODI World Cup, and Morkel strongly supports that idea. As someone who has bowled many overs against them, he said he knows how difficult they are to face and believes they still have plenty of cricket left in them.
During Friday’s training session, India practiced around two covered pitches, one of which will be used on match day. According to Morkel, the wicket looked lively, offering good pace and bounce. He said the pitch even had a South African-like feel, which could influence the team’s selection for the first ODI.
One open debate is whether India should choose fast-bowling allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy or spin-bowling allrounder Washington Sundar. Morkel explained that the final call will depend on pitch conditions and discussions within the coaching group. He added that the surface looked good, but the final decision would be taken after a closer look following the training session.
As India prepare for the upcoming series, the expected return of key players like Gill and Iyer, combined with the experience of Rohit and Kohli, gives the team a chance to regain confidence and aim for strong performances in the days ahead.
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