"Gambhir's choice prevailed.." Reports reveal how Morne Morkel was appointed India bowling coach

Morne Morkel will join as Indian Cricket Team’s bowling coach from 1st September 2024.

On August 14, 2024, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah confirmed former South African fast bowler Morne Morkel‘s appointment as the new bowling coach of the senior men’s Indian cricket team.

Recently, BCCI secretary Jay Shah also revealed the date when Morkel will be joining the Indian cricket team as the new bowling coach.

Shah confirmed that Morkel will join the Indian camp from September 1 ahead of the home series against Bangladesh. “Morne Morkel will be joining the squad on September 1,” Jay Shah told The Times of India.

Morkel is directly appointed on Gambhir’s recommendation

In the past, Indian cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir and former South African speedster Morne Morkel have shared the dressing room.

The duo worked in the Indian Premier League (IPL) together at Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for two years. Gambhir served as the mentor, whereas Morkel was the bowling coach of the Lucknow-based franchise in the IPL.

According to a report in PTI, Morkel was directly appointed as the bowling coach on Gambhir’s recommendation ahead of the other options like Lakshmipathy Balaji and Vinay Kumar.

“The Cricket Advisory Committee’s (CAC) mandate was to interview the candidates for the head coach. When it came to the 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.

The former South African pacer Morkel was also the bowling coach of the Pakistan men’s senior cricket team during the ICC ODI World Cup 2023. He resigned from the job before his contract was due to expire with the Pakistan team.

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