After India conceded over 500 runs for the first time in more than a decade outside Asia and the West Indies, questions poured in about their bowling strategy, most notably, the delayed introduction of Washington Sundar into the attack on Day 3. The offspinner ended up taking two wickets and brought some control, but his late arrival into the bowling mix has drawn scrutiny.

India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel admitted that there were “no easy answers” to the issues plaguing the attack in Manchester. He acknowledged a visible drop in pace, the underutilisation of allrounder Shardul Thakur, and Sundar’s late deployment. However, the one thing Morkel was firm about was India's selection logic, which he said continues to be driven by a desire to strengthen the batting depth.

Kuldeep Yadav’s continued absence despite his outstanding recent form remained a key talking point. “Kuldeep is world-class, and he's bowling really well at the moment. But unfortunately, to maintain that balance with batting throws it out a little bit,” Morkel explained. “We’ve seen in the past that we’ve lost wickets in clumps. So for now, it’s about extending our batting line-up.”

India has consistently opted for an extra batter or bowling allrounder, often at the expense of a specialist strike bowler like Kuldeep. Morkel insisted this was less about playing safe and more about giving the team a shot at putting 400-plus scores on the board, something he considers critical against England’s attacking style of play.

Late Use of Washington: Missed Opportunity?

Sundar was the last bowler brought into the attack, despite visible signs of turn and a dry pitch. When he did bowl, he made an immediate impact. But Morkel backed stand-in captain Shubman Gill’s decision to delay spin, saying the seamers were expected to exploit the early movement.

“In the first couple of days, we saw the ball moving around, seaming and swinging. So pace on the ball looked like the way to go,” Morkel said. “Shubman made the call to stick longer with the team. When Washington got his chance today, he did a great job.”

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Dip in Pace and Energy

Morkel admitted India’s fast bowlers lacked “zip” on Day 2, failing to bowl with the energy required on a flat pitch. “You need that extra energy off the surface to force mistakes, catches behind, LBWs. We went a bit too straight yesterday and leaked runs.”

He also pointed to the heavy workloads of bowlers like Siraj and the debut of Anshul Kamboj, who was chosen over Prasidh Krishna for his accuracy and ability to bowl long spells. But Kamboj operated in the high 120s and lacked penetration.

Shardul Thakur’s Limited Use

Thakur, too, hardly bowled on Day 3, as India preferred their strike bowlers. “It’s tough when you’re going at five and over. The captain wants to go back to his wicket-takers. That’s what happened again today,” said Morkel.

In sum, while Washington Sundar’s belated introduction was arguably a tactical oversight given the pitch conditions, India’s broader challenge lies in balancing their XI. For now, they’re erring on the side of batting depth even if it means holding back a match-turning bowler or two.