The suspense over India’s next bowling coach was recently lifted with BCCI secretary Jay Shah confirming that it will indeed be former South African pacer Morne Morkel who joins Gautam Gambhir’s coaching staff from the first week of September.
Morkel and Gambhir go a long way back. Besides playing together for IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders, the duo worked together with Lucknow Super Giants for two seasons – 2022 and 2023. Gambhir was associated with LSG for two years before leaving for KKR while Morkel continued as the team’s bowling coach.
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Gambhir was given a freehand at building his support staff with multiple quality options to choose from. He though went with his trusted allies in Abhishek Nayar, Ryan ten Doeschate (both worked with him at KKR) and Morkel.
According to news agency PTI, the mandate of BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) was to interview candidates for the head coach’s role with the successful applicant having the freedom to pick his support staff.
“The Cricket Advisory Committee’s mandate was to interview the candidates for the head coach. When it came to choice of support staff, it was imperative that Gambhir’s choice prevailed. He has worked with Morne and thinks of him highly as a bowling coach,” a BCCI source told PTI.
“Also with the big series against Australia coming up Down Under from last week of November, there isn’t a better choice than the South African, who has himself enjoyed fair bit of success over there. Also there will be the five-Test tour of England next year with a potential sixth match if India reach WTC final,” the source added.
Morkel will succeed Paras Mhambrey into the role and as per the report, once it was certain that the South African will join the coaching staff, Balaji and Vinay’s names weren’t considered.
The 39-year-old Morkel played 86 Tests, 117 ODIs and 44 T20Is for South Africa between 2006 and 2018. He took 544 wickets across formats at the international level and is counted among the top fast bowlers to have played the game.
He has played 70 IPL matches representing the likes of Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Daredevils and KKR and so has a lot of experience playing in Indian conditions.
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