India bowling coach Morne Morkel has urged critics to show greater understanding towards the team’s bowlers, pointing to the mental fatigue caused by a packed international schedule. With India’s attack under scrutiny after some expensive outings against the West Indies, Morkel reminded critics that players cannot be expected to deliver at their best in every game.

India’s busy calendar has seen players move between bilateral cricket, the Asian Games and off-field commitments before returning to international action. Speaking on the eve of the fifth T20I against the West Indies in Bengaluru on Friday, Morkel called for better recovery time and a more measured response to bowling performances.

“I read everything that's written on social media. One thing that we sometimes forget is that mental fatigue plays a big part. We have to manage that and you have to be smart with it,” Morkel said at the pre-match press conference, pointing out how some players went from the Asian Games straight into the West Indies series before travelling to Delhi for a presentation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and returning for the match.

“And for me, your execution and your skills will be better when you've recovered well, when you've slept well, and once you've mentally refreshed and that is a challenge. We're going to fly now to New Zealand. It's a jam-packed schedule there as well,” he added.

Morkel also backed the bowlers to have the occasional off day, arguing that criticism must account for the physical and mental demands placed on them.

“I've got a lot of respect for these guys, with the performances that they are at the moment producing for Team India, with the schedule we have,” he said.

“You know, and that's why I sometimes think we can allow them to make a mistake and allow them to have an off game and not be on them, because of the mental load and expectation on these players.”

WEST INDIES SERIES PUTS ATTACK UNDER PRESSURE

The results against the West Indies show why India’s bowling has become a talking point. India restricted the visitors to 171 in the first T20I and won by eight wickets, but the second match turned into a run-fest as the West Indies chased down 251, reaching 252 for four in 18.3 overs.

India responded by defending 223 for five to win the third match by 14 runs, only for the visitors to score 247 for three in the fourth and level the series with a 24-run victory.

The fourth T20I exposed the cost of India’s lapses, with Mayank Yadav conceding 52 runs in four overs and Arshdeep Singh giving away the same number before retiring hurt with a shoulder injury.

Arshdeep’s injury forced a change in India’s plans, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar added to the squad for the decider. The challenge for Morkel and his coaching staff is to help the attack find greater consistency without losing sight of the workload the players have endured.

BUMRAH’S ABSENCE RAISES BIGGER QUESTIONS

That inconsistency has also brought India’s dependence on Jasprit Bumrah back into focus. Bumrah was not part of the West Indies T20I squad, leaving the rest of the pace attack to take on greater responsibility.

In terms of the side's T20I numbers this year found that India took 128 wickets in 17 matches with Bumrah in the side, at an average of 21.49 and an economy rate of 8.62. Without him, India took 90 wickets in 16 matches at an average of 27.84 and an economy rate of 9.16.

The figures suggest India have found it harder to contain opposition batters without their leading fast bowler. Morkel’s defence of his attack is not a call to overlook expensive spells, but a reminder that performance, recovery and workload are connected.

With another demanding tour of New Zealand and the bigger 2027 ODI World Cup challenge ahead, India need their bowlers to sharpen their execution while building the depth to cope when Bumrah is unavailable.

- Ends