Team India’s new bowling coach, former South African pacer Morne Morkel, is gearing up for his first assignment—a two-match Test series against Bangladesh. Morkel shared his enthusiasm and outlined his plans for the role, emphasizing the importance of building connections with the team and contributing to their development.
In an interview shared by the BCCI on Instagram, Morkel spoke about his strategy for fostering relationships within the squad. He highlighted the advantage of having played alongside and against some of India’s senior players, especially during his time in the IPL. “For me, it is important to connect well with the guys. I’ve played a lot against some of the players and connected a little bit during the IPL. Now, being part of the camp, forming friendships and relationships is very important,” Morkel explained.
Morkel revealed that his initial goal is to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the players and offer guidance where needed. “I’m here to help, sitting and planting little seeds for the goals for the upcoming series. That’s the sort of conversation we had today,” he added, reflecting on the team’s first training session.
After observing the Indian squad’s training session ahead of the first Test in Chennai, Morkel expressed his admiration for their professionalism. “I was blown away by how they went about things, how professional they were. That’s a good sign, and hopefully, we can build on that,” he shared.
The Indian cricket team arrived in Chennai on Friday, preparing for the first Test against Bangladesh at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on September 19. Morkel, along with the coaching staff, will look to steer the team toward success in this upcoming home series.
