Following the conclusion of the current series against Sri Lanka, the Indian cricket team will appoint a full-time bowling coach. This development comes in response to a demand by head coach Gautam Gambhir, which the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has agreed to fulfill. The final decision on the new coach is expected to be made during the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh.

Candidate for the next bowling coach

Sairaj Bahutule is currently serving as India’s bowling coach during the tour of Sri Lanka, with T Dilip as the fielding coach and Ryan ten Doeschate and Abhishek Nayar assisting Gambhir. After the end of Sri Lanka serie, Bahutule’s tenure will conclude, and reports indicate that former South African pacer Morne Morkel is the frontrunner for the permanent bowling coach position.

Experience of working with Gautam Gambhir

Morkel’s previous experience working with Gambhir makes him a strong candidate for the role. He has collaborated with Gambhir at the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and played under his leadership for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). According to Cricbuzz, Morkel was initially expected to join the Indian team for the tour to Sri Lanka, but he returned home to attend to his father’s health.

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Fans’ expectations

With five of India’s Tests in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle to be played on home soil, fans and analysts alike are keen to see if the team management will stick with Bahutule or transition to the star former South African pacer.

If Bahutule retains his position, the coaching staff will be extensive, including head coach Gambhir, two assistant coaches (Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate), bowling coach Morne Morkel, fielding coach T Dilip, and a spin bowling coach. This totals six coaches, raising questions about whether the coaching staff may be excessively large. Fans are eagerly awaiting the BCCI’s decision, hoping for a strategic choice that will bolster India’s performance in the forthcoming matches.

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