Gill and Iyer on the Road to Recovery, Confirms Indian Bowling Coach Morne Morkel

The Indian bowling coach, Morne Morkel, has given a positive update on the recovery of Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer. He said the Indian captain is recovering well, while Iyer has recently begun his rehabilitation. This is an encouraging sign for the Indian team, which is currently facing a lot of criticism after losing the test series against South Africa.

After getting hit on the neck in the first test at Kolkata, Shubman Gill was immediately taken for the scans, which revealed the severity of the hit. Based on that, he was ruled out of the match and Pant was given the leadership charge for the rest of the series.

Morne Morkel spoke to Shubman Gill two days ago to get an update on his neck. The young batter gave positive responses, which made Morkel optimistic about his return to international cricket soon.

"I think the best is for the medical [team] to give that [update]. I spoke to Shubman two days ago just to check in with him and he is recovering well. So, that is pleasing to hear.” said Morne Morkel while talking to the reporters.

Talking about Shreyas Iyer, Morkel said that he has started the rehab process, which will speed up his recovery. The bowling coach is optimistic that both Gill and Iyer will return to the team soon, as their reports are giving plenty of positive signals.

"Shreyas has also started his rehab, which is great. So, we are looking forward to welcoming them back into the squad. The good thing is that they are healthy and they are starting their preparation on their way back into the team." said Morne Morkel.

With the ODIs against South Africa starting soon, India is yet to decide who will take the no.4 batting position in place of injured Shreyas Iyer. The names of Rishabh Pant and Tilak Verma are under consideration, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

Shubman Gill’s absence is not a major setback for India, as Yashasvi Jaiswal will replace him as an opener. He is also a young rising star who has impressed everyone in Indian cricket circles with his notable performances.

Opportunity for India to Bounce Back After Test Defeat

After losing the test series badly against South Africa, India now has the chance to turn the tide in the three-match ODI series. The return of top stars, including Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, can help India in this regard, although South Africa will also come hard by having the services of Quinton de Kock.

Morne Morkel also echoed the same sentiment in the press conference, which gave a sigh of relief to Indian cricket fans. However, he also cautioned that the spirit of the South African team is very high after winning the test series, so they can’t be taken lightly in the ODI matches.

"Look, it's a change of colour by clothing and it's a change of ball which always brings a different energy. But I feel you know the South African team, they have that momentum with them and a confident Protea team is a dangerous team. It will be important to start well, for us to play good cricket over the next week or two, because they're here to win.” said Morne Morkel.

He added that the experience of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will help the Indian team in the upcoming matches. He also urged all the players to forget about the losses of the last few weeks, as the days coming ahead are equally important for them.

"Luckily, we have got some good experience ahead now in the team. For us, it is now focus for the next two days. Give ourselves the best opportunity to prepare well and go out there and put the last couple of weeks behind us and really focus on playing solid cricket." said Morne Morkel.

The upcoming game in Ranchi is expected to produce big scores, as the pitches there are conducive to batting. Keeping that in mind, India has not yet finalized whether they will pick a fast-bowling all-rounder or a spinner for the first ODI. The decision will be made after the training session, which will provide a better idea of the ground conditions.

"I think we will have to look at the wicket. Honestly, I just walked past it now and it looked like a very good surface. Almost South African-like. So, I think the discussions will happen tonight in terms of what combination they look to start off with. So, we will have to wait and see after training." concluded Morne Morkel.