Credit: BCCI/X
India’s Champions Trophy 2025 opening match against Bangladesh in Dubai is only two days away amidst this scene, the team’s bowling coach Morne Morkel has flown back home from Dubai, due to his unforeseen developments. As per sources, Morkel's father has passed away which prompted him to leave the camp. Morkel along with Team India reached Dubai on February 15 and was active with team during the training sessions. However, he wasn’t a part of India’s practise session on February 17. The former pacer’s return is not yet confirmed and Team India will be expected to run their campaign in his absence for the next few days.
Back in August 2024, Morne Morkel became India’s bowling coach after Gautam Gambhir’s appointment as head coach in July last year. The South Africa-born speedster surpassed former India pacers Lakshmipathya Balaji and R Vinay Kumar to get the mantle. Morkel hit the headlines in January 2025 after a report claimed Gambhir rebuked the 40-year-old during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 for showing up late in practice sessions.
India will play their first ICC event after Gambhir’s appointment
India, who were the runners-up in the previous edition of the Champions Trophy played in England in 2017, will play their first ICC tournament after Gautam Gambhir taking the responsibility as head coach. In his eight-month stint, India have struggled in both home and overseas conditions. Back in August 2024, the side lost a three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka by a 0-2 margin.
After the Sri Lanka defeat, India faced a humiliating 0-3 defeat at the hands of New Zealand in a three-match Test series at home. Their horrendous run continued in Australia, where they lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by figures of 1-3. In the marquee tournament hosted by Pakistan and Dubai, Gambhir is expected to deliver effective results to Team India supporters to compensate for the losses the side faced in the recent few months.
