Newly appointed bowling coach Morne Morkel has expressed his excitement and optimism as he joins the Indian cricket team ahead of their two-match Test series against Bangladesh.
Speaking in a video shared by the BCCI, Morkel praised the Indian players for their professionalism and approach to the game, highlighting his eagerness to build strong relationships with the team and understand their individual strengths and weaknesses.
Morkel, a former South African fast bowler, is no stranger to the Indian cricket setup, having faced many Indian stalwarts such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma during his playing career, as well as working with several current players in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Reflecting on his initial impressions, he said, “I was blown away by how they went about things, how professional they were. So that is a good sign.“
He emphasized the importance of connecting well with the players, especially given his past experience with them in the IPL, and is looking forward to contributing to their success. Morkel acknowledged the high expectations surrounding the Indian team, particularly after an underwhelming ODI performance against Sri Lanka, but is confident in his ability to support the team in achieving success in the Test format.
“I know there will be expectations of winning, and luckily, I have experienced that in my playing days. I can share that knowledge,” Morkel stated. He added that India’s experienced senior players lead by example, and his role would be to offer the right guidance and advice to ensure the system continues to thrive.
Morkel is working under the leadership of head coach Gautam Gambhir, having taken over from former bowling coach Paras Mhambrey. He is eager to use his vast experience as a player and coach to guide Indiaโs bowling unit, especially as they prepare for crucial matches, starting with Bangladesh.
The first Test against Bangladesh begins on Thursday, with India fielding a strong squad that includes senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, alongside promising youngsters like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill.
India’s squad for the first Test:
- Rohit Sharma (C)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- KL Rahul
- Sarfaraz Khan
- Rishabh Pant (WK)
- Dhruv Jurel (WK)
- R Ashwin
- R Jadeja
- Axar Patel
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mohammed Siraj
- Akash Deep
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Yash Dayal
