By Krishika Dinesh Rathod
Morne Morkel, the bowling coach for Team India, had to return home from Dubai a few days before the ICC Champions Trophy began as his father passed away. On February 15, Morkel and the other Indian squad members arrived in Dubai, where they participated in numerous training sessions.
However, the South African coach did not participate in Monday’s team practice. The unexpected occurrence later led to reports that the former Proteas fast bowler was getting ready to go home.
According to Dainik Jagran, Morkel’s return date is still pending, and his absence will undoubtedly hurt Team India’s chances of taking home the Champions Trophy. On February 20, India will play their first match in the ICC Champions Trophy against Bangladesh.
A Look At What Team India Is Preparing: As the Indian team has prepared for their Champions Trophy opener against Bangladesh on Monday, wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul practiced his big-hitting techniques in preparation for the finisher’s role.
Usually renowned for his precise style, Rahul seemed to change gears as he concentrated on making aggressive shots.
The 32-year-old appeared to adopt a more aggressive, power-hitting mentality as Rishabh Pant fought for a spot in the starting lineup.
Showcasing his kills in the third ODI against England, when he scored 40 runs off 29 balls, Rahul has been seen practicing every single day by hitting sixes in almost every delivery.
Scheduled to bat at positions 5 or 6, Rahul’s responsibility will be vital in the closing overs, where he may be required to speed up the innings right from the beginning, and he might be observed honing his range-hitting skills during the intense training session.
India captain Rohit Sharma, who revitalized his performance with an impressive 119 in the second ODI versus England, also appeared to be in good form, honing his late cuts and subtle touch shots.
India’s batting cornerstone Virat Kohli, who displayed indications of restoring his form after scoring a 52 in the third ODI, also devoted time to refining his abilities. He appeared self-assured as he was making good contact with the ball and attempted to play later.