New Delhi
Former South African fast bowler Morne Morkel has been appointed as the bowling coach for the Indian men’s cricket team, following a request from chief coach Gautam Gambhir. The appointment, confirmed by BCCI, will see Morkel officially start his role on September 1.
This appointment is timely for Indian cricket, as the team gears up for a challenging home series against Bangladesh, beginning with the Chennai Test on September 19. Morkel was initially supposed to join the team during their recent tour of Sri Lanka, but personal issues delayed his arrival, leading to Sairaj Bahutule temporarily stepping in as bowling coach for six white-ball matches.
At 39, Morkel brings extensive experience as both a former international cricketer and a coach. He has a strong working relationship with Gambhir, having previously collaborated during their time with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the IPL. Their partnership was instrumental in shaping the team’s bowling strategy.
Morkel also has prior experience as the bowling coach for Pakistan’s national team during the ODI World Cup in India last year, a role he left earlier than expected due to personal reasons.
The coaching team under Gambhir includes Abhishek Nayar and former Dutch cricketer Ryan ten Doeschate as assistant coaches. T. Dilip, who was the fielding coach under the previous leadership of Rahul Dravid, will continue in his role, ensuring consistency in the team’s preparations.
