Morne Morkel, India's bowling coach, has backed KL Rahul to play a key role in the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, emphasising the vice-captain's experience and ability to guide younger squad members through the challenges ahead.
The series begins on August 15 at Galle International Stadium, with both Tests counting towards the ICC World Test Championship cycle. Rahul stands as the sole remaining member of India's batting group from the 2017 tour of Sri Lanka, giving him a unique perspective on conditions and preparation.
Morkel highlighted Rahul's recent batting performances and stressed the value of his communication with less experienced players during the preparation phase. India arrived 10 days before the first Test to allow the squad to work on individual game plans and develop strategies for scoring on the Galle surface. The warm-up match against Sri Lanka Cricket XI provided valuable match practice, with Devdutt Padikkal scoring an unbeaten 142 in India's six-wicket victory.
"KL, the last couple of years, the way he's been leading up front with the batting has been exceptional, and that's a sort of communication that we expect him to speak to the guys here in the preparation at the nets and about what to expect. But I think, our guys have learned a lot about their games individually over the last couple of months and that's one of the reasons why we've come out here 10 days earlier to give the guys the best opportunity to prepare to work on their individual game plans and individual game plans, and yeah, just to figure out how they're going to score on the surface here," Morkel said to the reporters.
Rahul's experience and leadership at the nets
Rahul, who was appointed vice-captain for this series, brings 15 years of international cricket experience to the squad. His role extends beyond batting, as Morkel indicated that the 34-year-old's insights at the nets will help younger players understand what to expect from Galle's challenging conditions. The preparation strategy reflects India's intent to build confidence among less experienced batters before the opening Test.
Bowling strategy and spinner options at Galle
Morkel outlined India's bowling approach for the series, noting that the team would rely heavily on its spin attack given Galle's traditional characteristics. The bowling coach suggested that three spinners could be a viable option, allowing India to create pressure from both ends while maintaining flexibility in their bowling combinations.
"I think, traditionally, you look at the venue, the stats, and how that's been played up. That's a sort of the way to go. I think, the way that we go with our spin bowling attack, our spinners, it's a very attacking option. And then you can sort of create pressure with seam from one side and always allow yourself with spin to operate from a, from another end," Morkel concluded.