New Delhi: India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel believes the switch to white ball cricket will help the national team regain confidence after a difficult test series against South Africa. India lost both matches at home, including a heavy 408 run defeat in Guwahati, raising concerns about the team’s recent form in red ball cricket.
Speaking ahead of the three match ODI series starting in Ranchi, Morkel said the change in format would bring fresh energy to the squad. He explained that limited overs cricket feels like a clean reset for many players and allows the team to move forward from the disappointment of the test results.
The ODI series will be led by KL Rahul, as regular captain Shubman Gill continues to recover from a neck injury. The return of senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli is also expected to strengthen the team and provide valuable experience.
The losses in the test series have sparked debate among former players and analysts. Some have questioned whether India’s young batters are getting enough match experience in domestic cricket. Others have pointed out that several players have less than 15 test appearances, suggesting they need more time to develop consistency in the longer format.
Head coach Gautam Gambhir defended the younger members of the squad earlier this week, saying they are still learning and must be given patience.
Despite the criticism, India will now shift focus to the upcoming six white ball matches, which also include a five match T20 series in December. These games will be important as the team begins early preparations for upcoming international tournaments, including the next T20 World Cup.
Morkel said the key now is to start strong in the first ODI and rebuild momentum.
“We cannot change what happened in the tests,” he said. “But we can focus on playing solid cricket from here.”
The first ODI between India and South Africa will be played on Sunday in Ranchi.