November 18, 2024: India’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel, and pacer Mohammad Siraj shared a light-hearted moment during India’s intra-squad match simulation ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) opener in Perth, showing a playful side in an otherwise intense training session.
As the Indian team ramps up its preparations for the high-stakes series against Australia, there’s been no shortage of serious focus in the closed-door practice sessions. The five-Test series, which runs until early January, is crucial for India’s World Test Championship aspirations, with the outcome potentially influencing their chance to qualify for the final. Amid this pressure, however, the players have been ensuring they keep the mood light with moments of fun banter.
In a recent video posted by the BCCI, Morkel is seen talking about India’s preparations for the opening Test when Siraj sneaked up from behind, fully geared in his batting kit. The Indian pacer, with his usual mischievous charm, stood behind Morkel and began listening intently, all while wearing a humorous expression.
As Morkel spotted Siraj behind him, he couldn’t resist a warm, jovial moment and draped his arm around Siraj’s shoulder. With a big smile, Morkel dubbed Siraj a “legend” and expressed his excitement for what he believes will be a standout performance from the pacer in the upcoming series.
Morkel said:
“This man is a legend. He’s got a big heart, aggressive mindset, and he’s one of the leaders of the attack. I’m very excited to see how he goes on this tour. Last tour, he was the go-to man in tough situations, and we’re excited to see more of that senior role coming out on a very important tour.”
This light-hearted moment between the two highlights the camaraderie within the Indian squad, even as they gear up for one of the most intense and crucial series of the year.
As the focus shifts to Siraj’s performance, the bowler will be keen to make a strong comeback after a below-par run in recent home Tests. Siraj had a disappointing performance during India’s recent home series, where he took just four wickets in the two Tests against Bangladesh. His form didn’t improve much in the subsequent series against New Zealand, where he played only two of the three Tests and managed just two wickets. This has left Siraj with a point to prove ahead of the BGT, and the player will be motivated to deliver some fiery spells on Australian soil, a place where he has enjoyed success in the past.
Morkel, however, is confident in Siraj’s ability to step up when it matters most. He praised Siraj’s aggressive mentality and leadership within the pace attack, emphasizing that he had been a key figure for India during the previous tour of Australia, stepping up in difficult moments. Morkel’s faith in Siraj’s ability to lead India’s pace attack on this crucial tour speaks volumes about the role Siraj will play in the coming weeks.
As India gets ready for the high-stakes series, all eyes will be on Siraj to see if he can regain his best form and live up to Morkel’s expectations as one of the leaders of India’s fast bowling attack.
