Gautam Gambhir Opts For Morne Morkel Over Lakshmipathy Balaji And Vinay Kumar As India’s Bowling Coach

India's cricketing landscape has a new addition to its coaching staff . The Board of Control for Cricket in India ( BCCI ) has officially announced that former South African fast bowler Morne Morkel will join Gautam Gambhir 's team as the new bowling coach starting in early September.

Morkel and Gambhir share a longstanding professional relationship. Their collaboration dates back to their time together with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL). They also joined forces at the Lucknow Super Giants during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. While Gambhir transitioned to the Kolkata Knight Riders, Morkel remained with the Lucknow Super Giants, enhancing his role as a bowling coach.

Gambhir, who was granted autonomy to assemble his coaching staff, chose to retain familiar faces including Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate—both of whom have worked alongside him at KKR. The inclusion of Morkel underscores Gambhir’s preference for trusted colleagues.

According to PTI, the BCCI’s Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) was tasked with interviewing candidates for the head coach position. The chosen head coach then had the authority to select his support staff . A BCCI source highlighted that Gambhir’s selection of Morkel was a deliberate choice, given their successful past working relationship.

With a significant series against Australia scheduled in late November and a potential Test series in England next year, the appointment of Morkel is seen as a strategic move. Morkel’s experience, including his successful stints in Australia and his previous tenure in the IPL, is expected to be valuable.

Morkel, who replaces Paras Mhambrey, brings a wealth of experience to the role. Over his international career from 2006 to 2018, he appeared in 86 Tests, 117 ODIs, and 44 T20Is, accumulating 544 wickets. His extensive experience in various formats and conditions, including 70 IPL matches, positions him as a strong asset for the Indian cricket team .