Morne Morkel Joins Team India as Bowling Coach Ahead of Bangladesh Test Series
Morne Morkel has joined team India in Chennai.
Former South African fast bowler Morne Morkel has officially joined the Indian cricket team as their new bowling coach ahead of the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, set to begin on September 19 in Chennai.
The Indian squad, captained by Rohit Sharma, arrived in Chennai on Thursday night. Players like Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul were seen arriving together and boarding the team bus.
Virat Kohli, on the other hand, made a separate entry, flying in directly from London and arriving in the early hours of the morning.
New Era in Indian Cricket
Morne Morkel’s appointment comes as part of a significant reshuffling in India’s coaching staff following the conclusion of Rahul Dravid’s successful tenure. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has also brought in Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate as assistant coaches.
The entire team now operates under the leadership of head coach Gautam Gambhir. Morkel steps into the shoes of Paras Mhambrey as bowling coach, bringing extensive international experience to the table.
Morkel served as Pakistan’s bowling coach during the 2023 ODI World Cup, and has also held coaching roles with Namibia, Durban Super Giants, and the New Zealand women’s team.
Upon arrival, Morkel joined the Indian team’s practice session on Friday, September 13, as they began their preparations for the first Test.
Although he missed the recent tour of Sri Lanka, where Gambhir debuted as India’s head coach, Morkel is expected to make a strong impact ahead of the Bangladesh series.
The working relationship between Gambhir and Morkel is not entirely new, as the two have previously collaborated with Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL. Morkel also played under Gambhir’s captaincy for Kolkata Knight Riders.