Team India finds itself in a sudden leadership vacuum just a week before the opening Test against England. Head coach Gautam Gambhir has flown back to India due to a family emergency, following reports of his mother suffering a heart attack. Adding to the situation, former assistant coach Abhishek Nayar had his contract terminated by the BCCI earlier and has since rejoined Kolkata Knight Riders for the upcoming IPL season.
This leaves India without both its head and assistant coach ahead of the five-Test series that begins on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds. In the interim, bowling coach Morne Morkel is expected to step up as the acting leader of the coaching staff. Morkel, a former South African pacer with vast international experience, has been closely involved in India’s preparations and is likely to guide the team through the crucial intra-squad match beginning June 13 in Beckenham.
Earlier, Morkel spoke about the importance of mental toughness for bowlers in English conditions:
“When the wicket goes a bit flat, that’s when character matters. We are focusing on building stamina and rhythm for long spells.”
India’s preparations have otherwise been intense, with a closed-door practice game to simulate match conditions and assess players’ red-ball readiness. With the series marking the start of a new era post Kohli-Rohit-Ashwin, all eyes will now be on Morkel and the support staff to ensure stability and tactical clarity in Gambhir’s absence.
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