[In Pictures] Bowling coach Morne Morkel joins Team India ahead of IND vs BAN opening Test in Chennai
Team India’s new bowling coach Morne Morkel on Friday, September 13, joined the squad ahead of the first of the two-match Test series against Bangladesh in Chennai. The opening game will be played at MA Chidambaram Stadium from September 19 onwards.
Morkel joined the side a month after being appointed bowling coach in August. He has replaced former India fast bowler Paras Mhambrey.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared pictures of Team India’s squad and coaches on X, where Morkel was also seen. Take a look:
Morkel will now work with Gautam Gambhir once again. The duo have worked together for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their first two Indian Premier League (IPL) seasons. The BCCI had already announced Gambhir’s aides – assistant coaches Abhishek Nayar and Ryan Ten Doeschate and fielding coach T Dilip ahead of the Sri Lanka tour in June. Dilip has been retained following the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Apart from LSG, Morne Morkel has also worked with Pakistan and Durban Super Giants. The 39-year-old's immediate challenge will be to ensure India’s fast bowling bench strength for 10 Tests this season, including series against Bangladesh, New Zealand, and Australia.
Morkel has played 86 Tests, 117 ODIs, and 44 T20Is for the Proteas, picking up 544 wickets across formats.
“He will be surrounded by some very good players” – Albie Morkel on Morne Morkel’s appointment as India bowling coach
Albie Morkel recently backed his younger brother Morne Morkel to deliver as India’s new bowling coach. The 43-year-old told Mid-Day (via The Times of India):
“It goes without saying that being on the Indian team's coaching staff is probably the biggest responsibility or coaching job out there. The passion for the sport and the success that the team had in the past makes it a job with no room for error."
“He will be surrounded by some very good players who have achieved a lot, so I guess, for him, it's a matter of earning their trust and believing that he can help to reach their full potential day in and day out,” he added.
Albie Morkel represented South Africa in one Test, 58 ODIs, and 50 T20Is.