Emerging Pacers Impress Indian Bowling Coach Ahead of ODI Series
Coach's Positive Assessment of New Bowlers
Morne Morkel, the bowling coach for India, expressed his satisfaction with the inclusion of uncapped fast bowlers Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar in the training sessions. He noted that his initial impression of both players was that they seemed like seasoned members of the team, having been part of it for five years, and he observed no signs of nervousness from them.
With key players like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj unavailable, India is set to field a new pace attack against Afghanistan in the first ODI of the three-match series scheduled for Saturday in Dharamsala.
Morkel, a renowned former South African pacer, was particularly impressed by the energy and skill displayed by the new bowlers during their training.
"My first impressions were that it felt like they had been part of the squad for five years. I noticed no nervousness on their faces, which is remarkable considering the pressure of joining the squad. Their training energy was refreshing and showcased their skills well," he remarked.
He acknowledged the hard work both bowlers have put in, stating that they were consistently performing well during practice.
"This makes my job easier. Moving forward, we will focus on developing their skills, discussing strategies for the middle phase, power plays, and death overs. Overall, I am very pleased with what I observed from the group. The excitement now lies in preparing them to seize their opportunity when called upon," he concluded.
Introducing the New Pacers
Prince Yadav emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the IPL while playing for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), claiming 16 wickets in 14 matches with an average of 28.68 and best bowling figures of 3/32.
On the other hand, Gurnoor Brar, who did not participate in the IPL with Gujarat Titans (GT), stands out due to his impressive height of six feet four inches, which aids in generating bounce. He has taken 52 wickets in 18 first-class matches at an average of 27.30, with his best figures being 5/14, including three four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul. In nine List-A matches, he has secured 12 wickets at an average of 39.00, with best figures of 4/57.
Squads for the Upcoming Match
India Squad: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Gurnoor Brar, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav.
Afghanistan Squad: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Rahmat Shah, Ikram Alikhil(w), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangeyalia Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Bilal Sami, Darwish Rasooli, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi.