ESPNcricinfo has gathered exclusive information pointing towards Morne Morkel emerging as the primary contender for the role of India's next bowling coach. Former India allrounder Abhishek Nayar and ex-Netherlands allrounder Ryan ten Doeschate are slated to join the Indian support staff as assistant coaches for the forthcoming white-ball tour of Sri Lanka.
This duo is reuniting with the newly appointed head coach, Gautam Gambhir, following their prior roles as assistant coaches during Kolkata Knight Riders' triumphant IPL 2024 campaign. Alongside this development, it has been revealed that the former South African fast bowler Morne Morkel has been approached for the coveted position of India's bowling coach. While Vinay Kumar, the former India and Karnataka seamer, is also in the running for the role, Morkel appears to be the frontrunner.
The newly formed coaching team is gearing up for their initial task, the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, featuring three ODIs and three T20Is, commencing on July 27th. Abhishek Nayar, a seasoned cricketer with three ODIs for India and multiple Ranji Trophy triumphs with Mumbai, is highly esteemed for his mentoring abilities, having played a pivotal role in nurturing talents like Dinesh Karthik and Varun Chakravarthy.
On the other hand, Ryan ten Doeschate currently assists head coach Phil Simmons at Los Angeles Knight Riders in the USA's Major League Cricket, bringing a wealth of experience from his tenure as a batting coach at Kent.