Former South African fast bowler Morne Morkel has been named Team India's new bowling coach. Morkel will be joining head coach Gautam Gambhir, assistant coaches Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate and fielding coach T Dilip in the revamped coaching staff. Although his duties get underway from September 1, his first assignment with the Indian team will be from September 19 when India play against Bangladesh for the first Test of the upcoming series in Chennai.
Following Morne Morkel's appointment as Team India’s bowling coach, a six-year-old video of Gambhir praising Morkel has gone viral. In the clip, Gambhir expresses his interest in bringing Morkel onto his Indian Premier League (IPL) team, which has gained attention now that Morkel has been named as India's new bowling coach.
In an episode of Breakfast With Champions from 2017, Gambhir is asked by the show host about the fiercest bowler he ever faced. Without any thought, Gambhir takes Morne Morkel’s name.
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Morkel's Abilities Compelled Gambhir To Get Him Onboard At KKR
Gambhir explained that Morkel was so challenging to face that he pushed to bring him to KRK after playing against him while Morkel was with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals).
“Morne Morkel, in South Africa. That’s why I got him. Honestly, that’s why we got him in KKR (Kolkata Knight Riders) as well. I thought he was the toughest bowler I faced,” says Gambhir in the clip.
Watch the viral video here:
“Even when he was playing for Delhi (Delhi Daredevils), every time I would face him I would come back and say I wish we had Morne Morkel. And the moment he was released, I said Morne Morkel,” adds Gambhir in the video.
Morne Morkel and Gautam Gambhir developed a strong working relationship while at Lucknow Super Ginats (LSG) in the IPL, where Morkel served as bowling coach. It's likely that Gambhir recommended Morkel for his new role with the Indian team. Even after Gambhir left LSG and the coaching staff changed, Morkel remained as the franchise’s bowling coach under Justin Langer. Additionally, Morkel and Gambhir previously played together for three seasons at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).