F
ormer cricketer Basit Ali criticized Pakistani bowlers for not fully appreciating Morne Morkel’s coaching expertise, pointing out a significant difference in professional attitudes between Indian and Pakistani players.
Morkel, a former South African pacer, has joined the Indian coaching staff and has had a successful start, evidenced by the impressive performance of the Indian bowlers in the first Test against Bangladesh.
In the match held in Chennai, India achieved a commanding 280-run victory, finishing the game with over a day to spare. Morkel, who was previously the bowling coach for Pakistan, parted ways with the team after their early exit from the 2024 ODI World Cup.
His time with Pakistan was marked by disappointing performances, leading to an early termination of his contract. Under Morkel’s guidance, the Indian bowling attack demonstrated remarkable skill and strategy.
Jasprit Bumrah spearheaded the effort in the first innings with figures of 4/50, while Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep effectively dismantled the Bangladesh batting lineup, limiting them to just 149 runs.
In the second innings, spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja shone brightly, taking nine wickets between them to secure Bangladesh’s defeat.
This victory emphasizes the depth and versatility of India’s bowling lineup and underscores the positive influence of Morkel’s coaching. As India looks forward to the remainder of the series, the team appears well-positioned to maintain their winning streak under Morkel’s leadership.
