Gautam Gambhir's tenure will begin with India's tour of Sri Lanka.
While BCCI appointed Gautam Gambhir as the new Team India head coach on July 9, 2024, the appointments of the support staff are being discussed. Gambhir’s first assignment will be the tour of Sri Lanka, where India will play 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is.
Along with Rahul Dravid, the tenures of his support staff batting coach Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, and fielding coach T. Dilip also ended after the T20 World Cup 2024.
And Gambhir has reportedly asked the BCCI to consider former South Africa pacer Morne Morkel for the role of bowling coach. Morkel was the coach of the Pakistan team during last year's ODI World Cup in India. He is also the bowling coach of Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL.
Morkel played 86 Tests, 117 ODIs, and 44 T20Is in a period between 2006 and 2018,
As per Cricbuzz reports, Morkel, who lives in Australia, has been approached with the offer and discussions have taken place.
Both Gambhir and Morkel are known to have had a good working relationship at the Lucknow Super Giants IPL team, where Gambhir served as a mentor for two years.
Morkel, who retired in 2018, is well-versed in modern-day fast bowling, and Gambhir, known for working with people he is comfortable with, is believed to be keen on having Morkel in his coaching team.
One of the considerations is Morkel's young family and the extensive travel required for the Indian job. He lives in the plush Seaforth suburb in northern Sydney with his wife Roz Kelly, a sports presenter on Channel 9. The couple have two children.
On the other hand, the board is discussing several other names as well including L Balaji and Vinay Kumar. The BCCI is also considering legendary pacer Zaheer Khan for the bowling coach role.
As previously reported by Cricbuzz, Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate are a couple of other recommendations of Gambhir and the BCCI is believed to be keen on retaining fielding T Dilip from the outgoing Dravid regime.