Morkel set to miss Sri Lanka tour, BCCI appoints former India cricketer as interim bowling coach

Morne Morkel will not be joining the Indian team for their tour of Sri Lanka. Instead, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has appointed Sairaj Bahutule, from the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, as the interim bowling coach for the six-match white-ball series.

Bahutule will be part of the coaching staff led by Gautam Gambhir, which also includes assistant coaches Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate.

Bahutule, a 51-year-old former leg-spinning all-rounder, has represented India in two Tests and eight ODIs between 1997 and 2003. Given the spin-friendly conditions in Sri Lanka, his appointment is considered a sensible decision.

While Morkel was slated to be the bowling coach for the Indian Men's team, he is currently unavailable due to personal issues.

The former South African pacer, who resides in Sydney, has traveled to Pretoria to care for his ailing father. There is a possibility that Morkel will join the Indian team ahead of their home series against Bangladesh in September.