Morne Morkel Praises Uncapped Pacers Ahead of India vs Afghanistan ODI
Excitement Builds for India's New Pace Attack
In Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel expressed his enthusiasm regarding the inclusion of uncapped fast bowlers Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar in the training sessions. He noted that his initial impression of the duo was that they seemed like seasoned members of the team, displaying remarkable composure and confidence.
With key players like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj unavailable, India is set to unveil a new pace attack against Afghanistan in the first ODI of their three-match series this Saturday. Morkel, a renowned former South African pacer, was impressed by the energy and skill both bowlers exhibited during practice.
Morkel remarked, "From my first impressions, it felt as if they had been part of the squad for five years. Despite the pressure of joining the team, they showed no signs of nervousness, which was refreshing to see. Their training energy was commendable, and their skills were evident."
He acknowledged the hard work both bowlers have put in, stating, "They were consistently hitting their targets during training. This makes my job easier as we move forward to refine their game, discussing strategies for the middle overs, power plays, and death overs. Overall, I am very pleased with what I observed and excited to prepare them for their upcoming opportunities."
Prince Yadav emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the IPL for the Lucknow Super Giants, claiming 16 wickets in 14 matches with an average of 28.68 and best figures of 3/32. Meanwhile, Gurnoor Brar, who did not play in the IPL for the Gujarat Titans, stands out due to his impressive height of six feet four inches, which aids in generating bounce. In 18 first-class matches, he has taken 52 wickets at an average of 27.30, including a best of 5/14, along with 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.
The squads for the upcoming match are as follows:
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.