According to reports from PTI citing BCCI secretary Jay Shah, India has hired former South African pacer Morne Morkel as their bowling coach. Starting his role on September 1, Morkel will immediately dive into the home Test series against Bangladesh on September 19. While his contract extends until the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa, the real litmus test will be the tour of Australia this December and January, following India's unexpected success in their previous two trips there.
Former South African fast bowler Morne Morkel has been appointed as the Indian cricket team’s new bowling coach, according to news agency PTI, quoting BCCI secretary Jay Shah. Morkel’s contract is expected to start on September 1, therefore his first assignment with Team India will be the home Test series against Bangladesh, which begins September 19. He has been appointed until the end of the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa. His big test, however, will be the Australia tour in December-January. Against all odds, India won the Test series in Australia during their last two tours.
Jay Shah confirmed to PTI that Morne Morkel has officially joined the senior men's team as bowling coach. He is expected at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru early next month to evaluate players during the Duleep Trophy and will collaborate with both VVS Laxman and the NCA's head of bowling, Troy Cooley.
Morkel arrives with a stellar professional background. In his time playing for South Africa, he featured in 86 Tests, 117 ODIs, and 44 T20 Internationals, racking up 309, 188, and 47 wickets. He was a key part of a lethal South African bowling trio alongside Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander, creating one of the most intimidating attacks in the history of international cricket.
There is already a strong professional bond between Morkel and head coach Gautam Gambhir. The two spent three seasons together at the Kolkata Knight Riders and later worked side-by-side at the Lucknow Super Giants, where Gambhir acted as mentor and Morkel handled the bowling coaching. Interestingly, Morkel remained in his role at LSG even after Gambhir returned to KKR.