Morne Morkel reportedly faces sack; BCCI unhappy with bowling and assistant coaches

Indian cricket team’s memorable fightback and draw against England in the fourth Test at Manchester may not help bowling coach Morne Morkel and assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate retain their jobs as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly decided to axe them. As per a report in the Telegraph, the BCCI is “hell-bent on ringing in the changes” and will sack Morkel and ten Doeschate ahead of India’s next Test series against the West Indies at home.

However, the duo may continue with the team till the Asia Cup 2025, which starts on 9 September in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), due to a lack of time to find their replacements.

The Test record for India under head coach Gautam Gambhir and the new support staff has been disastrous, with eight defeats in 14 matches. However, Gambhir is set to get an extended rope as Test team coach, as BCCI doesn’t want wholesale changes in a team that is under transition.

Morkel faces sack; BCCI unhappy with bowling coach

But BCCI’s top brass feels that Morkel and ten Doeschate have “failed to deliver in their respective positions,” especially in Test cricket. The latest case of debutant pacer Anshul Kamboj bowling at the speed of 120kmph in the fourth Test against England at Manchester seemingly confirmed Morkel’s exit.

Morkel has also been accused of failing to nurture a single talent since his time with Team India.

The decision-makers in BCCI are also unhappy that Kuldeep Yadav has been consistently kept out of the playing XI despite Indian bowlers at times struggling to take wickets. “The coaches always talk of balance, but keeping a world-class wrist spinner like Kuldeep Yadav out has had disastrous consequences," a source told the Telegraph.

It’s not just the support staff, the chief selector, Ajit Agarkar and East’s representative Shiv Sundar Das are also under the scanner. Both Agarkar and Das are currently in England with Team India. As per the report, there’s a disconnect between the Team India management and the players when it comes to a few selection calls.

Both Morkel and ten Doeschate joined Team India, along with former assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, last year after Gambhir became the new coach. Gambhir had worked with them in the past at Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises.

Nayar was sacked earlier this year after India lost the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3-1.