India’s newly appointed bowling coach, Morne Morkel, has expressed his admiration for the strong foundation of the Indian bowling unit. He believes the team operates on ‘auto-pilot’ and requires only minor adjustments to reach its peak potential.
In an interview with BCCI.TV, Morkel shared his initial observations: “Coming here, this is a set-up that operates by itself, and so to protect that and make it better in small ways is going to be the goal.” Having previously worked with head coach Gautam Gambhir during his time with the Lucknow Super Giants, Morkel emphasizes his role as a sounding board for the experienced players in the squad. “We are quite lucky to have quality senior players, and they will lead the charge. Our responsibility is to support them and give them the best sort of advice that we can give,” he stated.
The former South African speedster, who has claimed 554 wickets in his illustrious career, was impressed by the professionalism displayed by the Indian cricketers. He is eager to build connections within the team, having already encountered several players during his IPL stints. “It’s one thing having talent and skill, and how can you make those guys feel welcome in an intimidating environment? India playing in the blue shirt comes with a lot of expectations. So for me, having the experience, going through that, passing that sort of knowledge and helping them settle in will be the goal,” Morkel explained.
He believes that creating a comfortable and inclusive atmosphere is crucial for optimal performance. “As soon as players have that comfort and feel they belong here, that’s when the performance comes. I am looking forward to that, and obviously, up-skill them and get them up to the standard.” Morkel has joined the Indian camp ahead of the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, commencing on September 19th in Chennai. His insights and guidance are expected to play a significant role in bolstering the Indian bowling attack as they aim for a successful series.
