The Indian national cricket team is all set to tour Sri Lanka for the three-match T20I and ODI series. This will be Gautam Gambhir’s first assignment as the head coach of the team after he was recently appointed to the post following Rahul Dravid’s tenure which ended after the 2024 T20 World Cup.
While Gautam Gambhir has been appointed as the team’s head coach, his support staff is yet to be finalised. As per the various media reports, it is learnt that almost all the other coaches have been confirmed but BCCI is looking for a bowling coach, in particular.
Gautam Gambhir was given a free hand to pick his support team and the former India captain suggested a few names. Cricbuzz recently revealed that he recommended Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate as assistant coaches and the Board of Control for Cricket in India accepted his demands.
Reports also claimed that T Dilip, who was part of the Rahul Dravid-led management, will continue to be the fielding coach. But in a major development, it was also revealed that Gautam Gambhir has asked BCCI to fill the position of former South Africa spinner Morne Morkel to be the bowling coach.
It was recently reported that BCCI is also interested in hiring Morne Morkel as bowling coach and the two parties have held talks regarding the same. The former South African pace bowler has worked with Gautam Gambhir at the Lucknow Super Giants and the duo bonded well and enjoyed considerable success.
With reports related to Morne Morkel as India’s next bowling coach dominating the headlines, it is known that it will take some time for him to be included in the squad. The former South Africa bowler will not be part of the Indian squad for the Sri Lanka tour and is likely to join after the white-ball series.
Earlier, News 18 reported that Morne Morkel and BCCI are yet to finalise formal work and hence, he will not be part of the Sri Lanka tour.
Sairaj Bahutule to be India’s bowling coach for Sri Lanka tour
With Morne Morkel all set to join the Indian squad after the Sri Lanka tour, as per reports from Cricbuzz, it has been learnt that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made a temporary arrangement for the six white-ball games against the island nation, to be played from July 27.
National Cricket Academy (NCA) bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule will serve as the interim bowling coach for the T20Is and ODIs against the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team. Reports also claimed that the rest of the technical staff will accompany the team to the island nation.
All coaches Gautam Gambhir, Abhishek Nayar, Ryan ten Doeschate, Sairaj Bahutule and T Dilip will travel with the players to Sri Lanka. India will depart on July 22 (Monday) and the head coach is set to attend a press conference before boarding the flight.
