Mumbai, March 4 (NationPress) The Indian cricket team's coach Morne Morkel expressed concerns regarding dropped catches, Abhishek Sharma's difficulties with his new batting style, and the bowlers' challenges in controlling opposing batters, particularly after conceding scores exceeding 170 in recent matches. Additionally, he highlighted the impact of pitch conditions and dew as pressing issues during a pre-match press conference ahead of their semifinal showdown against England in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

Morkel addressed inquiries about the team's lessons from previous semifinal encounters with England and their overall preparation before defending their title, which they secured two years ago in Barbados.

A major point of concern was the team's subpar catching, with several crucial catches dropped leading up to the semifinals, including two each by opener Abhishek Sharma and Rinku Singh. India has now dropped 13 catches in this tournament, and any further missed opportunities in the semifinals could be as detrimental as dropping the World Cup trophy.

"Fielding is a critical aspect we continuously discuss. At times, we may unintentionally give away 15-20 runs in the field. This is an area we are committed to improving, and we encourage the players to elevate their performance," Morkel stated, noting that the players are cognizant of their errors and are actively addressing them.

He reassured that the inconsistent performances from opener Abhishek Sharma and spinner Varun Chakravarthy do not alarm the team management, given that they are both skilled players likely to experience occasional off days.

The bowling coach dismissed claims that the Indian squad overly relies on mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, suggesting that when opponents figure him out, the team tends to concede more runs.

"Analyzing the scores in this World Cup and the recent series, it’s evident that the wickets have been favorable. We can’t expect to bowl every team out for scores like 120 or 150. We have reached the semifinals and won most of our matches. The players have performed admirably. It’s also worth noting that Rinku and Tilak have stepped in to bowl at times when key bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah haven’t bowled their full quota," Morkel explained.

"For us, it’s not about how we arrived at the semifinals; it’s about the next two matches and our approach. Players tend to perform well, and we recognize the narrow margins in Indian cricket, particularly in bowling. Therefore, I don’t place too much emphasis on that," Morkel added.

He also countered the notion that the team has failed to synchronize their efforts and has not achieved a flawless game in this World Cup.

"The quality of this team demonstrates that on any given day, someone can rise to the occasion and deliver a strong performance. We hope to showcase that in the next two matches, especially tomorrow night. The key is to put in hard work during training. Unfortunately, success isn't guaranteed, but we aim to give ourselves the best chance to perform well. Tomorrow night is a significant occasion, and we hope the players remain calm and execute their skills effectively," Morkel remarked.

Despite India's initial struggles at the Wankhede Stadium during their opening match against England—where they were reduced to 76/7 before a stellar 84 from captain Suryakumar Yadav helped secure a competitive total—Morkel stated they are not overly concerned about the pitch.

"Honestly, we won’t know how the wicket will behave until the day of the match. The ground staff has watered it to prevent it from becoming too dry in the hot and humid conditions," Morkel noted.

"It’s notably hotter here in India, and maintaining moisture in the wicket is crucial for our performance. We can’t control everything, but we will do our best to prepare. Team selection will depend on what we observe on game day, and we must be smart in our skills, adapting to the conditions. While we have a general strategy, the key is to understand how to play on that wicket on the specific night. That’s beyond our control," Morkel explained.

Although both India and England play aggressive cricket, Morkel confirmed that the team management does not intend to alter their strategy for the semifinal, emphasizing that they will stick to their established plans and the players will aim to play their natural game.