IND vs AFG ODIs | We will play around with the No. 3 spot: India bowling coach Morkel

India bowling coach Morne Morkel hinted that the squad would rotate players to bat astatine No. 3 successful the lack of Virat Kohli during the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. “That’s thing that we’ll play astir with, [whether] it’s Ishan (Kishan) or K.L. (Rahul) or Yashasvi (Jaiswal),” said Morkel in effect to a question connected who volition instrumentality the erstwhile skipper’s place.

“We person got a mates of one-day games coming up, and we’ll springiness players an accidental successful antithetic slots to springiness ourselves a amended thought of however we tin operation teams and person antithetic options,” helium said connected the eve of the first ODI at the HPCA Stadium.

In the past 5 years, Rahul has go a dependable performer successful the middle-order, batting astatine No. 5 oregon little astir of the time. Interestingly, connected Friday (June 12, 2025), Kishan was seen donning the gloves during grooming portion Rahul — who has been India’s designated wicket-keeper for a portion present — was taking outfield catches, giving credence to the information that the Karnataka batter could get a promotion.

Commenting connected caller pacers Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar, who are successful enactment for their planetary debuts, Morkel felt the youngsters are rather acceptable for the challenge.

“First impressions, it is astir similar they’ve been portion of the squad for 5 years. I saw nary nervousness connected their face. The mode they’ve gone astir training, the vigor they’ve trained with, was bully to see,” said the erstwhile South African pacer.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi felt his side’s caller signifier successful the 50-over format gives it the assurance to outpouring a astonishment connected the Men successful Blue.

“India is simply a pugnacious opposition. But astatine the aforesaid time, we person besides played prime cricket successful this format successful the caller past. So, it volition beryllium a bully contention betwixt some teams,” said Shahidi.