THIS former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer joins Team India training session as bowling coach for first time in Chennai, check PICS

Team India began preparations for the two-match India vs Bangladesh 2024 Test series with their first training session at the M. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday (September 13). The first Test is set to begin in Chennai from September 19.

The training session was a memorable one for the Indian side as it was the first time that new-look coaching staff led by head coach Gautam Gambhir, assistant coach Abhishek Nayar and bowling coach Morne Morkel took charge. While Gambhir and Nayar worked together in the T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka in July this year, former South Africa pacer Morkel has joined Rohit Sharma’s side for the first time after being appointed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from the start of this month.

The former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) pacer was seen in the team huddle in Team India’s first practice session in Chennai in a picture shared by the BCCI on Friday, which soon went viral on social media.

 

The countdown starts as #TeamIndia begin their preps for an exciting home season.#INDvBAN pic.twitter.com/VlIvau5AfD

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 13, 2024

The 39-year-old pacer has previously worked as the bowling coach of the Pakistan cricket team apart from working with Gambhir in the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

In his 86-Test career, Morkel picked up 309 wickets at average of just 27.66. Against India, Morkel played in 17 Tests and picked up 58 wickets at an average of 26.41.

The two-match series between India and Bangladesh will kick off on September 19 in Chennai at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Meanwhile, the second long-format game will begin on September 27 in Kanpur. In his first Test assignment, head coach Gautam Gambhir will be keen on securing a series win.

For Bangladesh, uncapped batter Jaker Ali has replaced injured pacer Shoriful Islam in the squad that played against Pakistan. Shoriful sustained a groin injury in the first Test against Pakistan and will not be considered against India.

In the absence of Shoriful, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud, and Khaled Ahmed will lead Bangladesh’s pace attack in the two-match Test series against India. Najmul Hossain Shanto will lead the squad in the two-match series against India.

(with ANI inputs)