{"id":179670,"date":"2026-06-12T08:09:28","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T13:39:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=179670"},"modified":"2026-06-12T08:09:28","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T13:39:28","slug":"ind-vs-afg-1st-odi-india-likely-to-rotate-number-three-position-in-kohlis-absence-says-morkel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=179670","title":{"rendered":"IND vs AFG, 1st ODI: India likely to rotate number three position in Kohli\u2019s absence, says Morkel"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"content-body-71093993\">India bowling coach Morne Morkel hinted that the team would rotate players to bat at the number three spot in the absence of Virat Kohli during the three-match series against Afghanistan.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think that\u2019s something that in this series we\u2019ll play around with, [whether] it\u2019s Ishan (Kishan) or K.L. (Rahul) or Yashsasvi (Jaiswal),\u201d said Morkel in response to a question on who will take the former skipper\u2019s place on the eve of the first match.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have got a couple of one-day games coming up, and we\u2019ll give guys an opportunity in different slots to give ourselves a better idea of how we can structure teams and have different options,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>In the last five years, Rahul has become a dependable performer in the middle-order batting at number five or lower most of the time. Interestingly, on Friday, Ishan Kishan was seen donning the gloves during training while Rahul &#8211; who has been India\u2019s designated wicket-keeper for a while now &#8211; was taking outfield catches, giving credence to the fact that the Karnataka batter could get a promotion.<\/p>\n<p><b>ALSO READ: <a href=\"https:\/\/sportstar.thehindu.com\/cricket\/india-vs-afghanistan-1st-odi-preview-rohit-jaiswal-kishan-2027-world-cup-latest-news\/article71093640.ece\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\">IND vs AFG, 1st ODI: India faces Afghanistan challenge with lessons to learn ahead of 2027 ICC World Cup<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n<p>Commenting on new pacers Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar, who are in line for their international debuts, Morkel felt they are quite ready for the challenge.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFirst impressions, it is almost like they\u2019ve been part of the squad for five years. I saw no nervousness on their face. The way they\u2019ve gone about training, the energy they\u2019ve trained with, was good to see,\u201d said the former South African pacer.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, Afghanistan skipper Hashmatullah Shahidi felt his side\u2019s recent form in the 50-over format gives them the confidence to spring a surprise on India.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIndia is a tough opposition. But at the same time, we have also played quality cricket in this format in the recent past. So, it will be a good challenge between both teams,\u201d said Shahidi.<\/p>\n<p class=\"publish-time\" id=\"end-of-article\">Published on Jun 12, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/sportstar.thehindu.com\/cricket\/india-vs-afghanistan-1st-odi-morne-morkel-number-three-rotated-rahul-kishan-jaiswal-quotes-latest\/article71093993.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>India bowling coach Morne Morkel hinted that the team would rotate players to bat at the number three<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":179671,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-179670","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/PTI06_05_2026_000021B.jpg","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":189509,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=189509","url_meta":{"origin":179670,"position":0},"title":"Sooryavanshi ready but he has to wait for his turn, says bowling coach Morkel","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"July 3, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"India bowling coach Morne Morkel on Friday indicated that the management will not easily displace openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma despite teen phenom Vaibhav Sooryavanshi knocking on the team\u2019s doors. Abhishek has made one half century and a 49 in his last three innings during the ongoing tour but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AFP_B8XP9ME.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AFP_B8XP9ME.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AFP_B8XP9ME.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AFP_B8XP9ME.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AFP_B8XP9ME.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":189493,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=189493","url_meta":{"origin":179670,"position":1},"title":"Sooryavanshi\u2019s an incredible story, but England will be different challenge: Sam Curran","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"July 3, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"England all-rounder Sam Curran found 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi\u2019s India selection an \u201cincredible story\u201d but hoped to contain the explosive teen genius if his debut happens against the Three Lions in the ongoing five-match T20I series. The cricketing world has been waiting impatiently for Sooryavanshi\u2019s international debut since his entry into\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AFP_B8XQ22G.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AFP_B8XQ22G.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AFP_B8XQ22G.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AFP_B8XQ22G.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AFP_B8XQ22G.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":175273,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=175273","url_meta":{"origin":179670,"position":2},"title":"Indian team cricket schedule after IPL: Full list of matches, fixtures, dates, venues","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 1, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Shortly after the conclusion of the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the Indian cricket team\u2019s international season will resume with a one-off Test match against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh on June 6. 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K.L. Rahul (100, 165b,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Sports&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Sports","link":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?cat=9"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/30_RVM_2968.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/30_RVM_2968.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/30_RVM_2968.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/30_RVM_2968.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/newslink360.space\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/30_RVM_2968.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":175637,"url":"https:\/\/newslink360.space\/?p=175637","url_meta":{"origin":179670,"position":4},"title":"IPL: Purple Cap winners list in Indian Premier League from 2008 to 2026","author":"Ajay Kumar Verma","date":"June 1, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Kagiso Rabada won his second Purple Cap award after topping the wicket-taking charts in IPL 2026 with 29 wickets at an average of 21.58 and economy rate of 9.68. 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