India to skip training before IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2025 final: Morne Morkel says team will 'rest and play smart'

Mayank Bande

•
India to skip training before IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2025 final: Morne Morkel says team will 'rest and play smart' image

After grinding through three Super Four matches in just five days, India now gears up for a blockbuster Asia Cup final against Pakistan. The match will be played on Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium.

So far, the Suryakumar Yadav-led side has cruised through the Asia Cup without making any forced changes to their squad

Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source

Star pacer Jasprit Bumrah is the only player from the first-choice XI to be rested. He sat out two inconsequential matches, which allowed the team to manage his workload following recent injury concerns.

After playing a tense Super Over against Sri Lanka on Friday, India has opted to skip their practice session on Saturday. They will prioritize recovery and rest before the big match.

Here’s what coach Morne Morkel had to say about India's recovery schedule heading into the final.

Morne Morkel explains why India will skip training session on Asia Cup Final eve

Speaking at the press conference after India’s Super Over win against Sri Lanka, bowling coach Morne Morkel outlined the team’s recovery plan, confirming that Saturday’s training session will be skipped.

The former Proteas pacer stressed the importance of managing workloads when matches come in quick succession.

"The key for the boys is to rest. They're in an ice bath already. The recovery started straight after the match. The best way to recover is to sleep and stay off your feet. Hopefully they can get a good night's sleep," Morkel said.

READ MORE: Should Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah play together in IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2025 final?

"There will be individual pool sessions for the guys organised. Then some massages before they get mentally ready for the big battle on Sunday. It's a quick turnaround, and playing smart is going to be the key. There will certainly be no training," he added.

Following the Asia Cup final on September 28, India will return home to host West Indies in a two-match Test series beginning October 2.

Captain Shubman Gill, along with Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel, from the Asia Cup squad will be part of the red-ball assignment.

Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana will link up with the Shreyas Iyer-led India A side for the second and third unofficial ODIs against Australia A.

RELATED LINKS:

Mayank Bande

Mayank Bande has been a content producer at The Sporting News since 2023 and has extensive experience in cricket writing. His work has previously appeared on platforms like OneCricket and Last Word on Sports. Beyond cricket, Mayank closely follows football as an FC Barcelona supporter, along with tennis and Olympic sports. Despite holding a degree in Business Administration, he chose to pursue a career in sports, bringing sharp analysis to his writing as someone who once played cricket.