Morkel Praises Team's Effort: ‘Watching Players Train Over Last Three Days Has Been a Delight’

India's bowling coach Morne Morkel has been confident of the team being well prepared for the impending five-test series against England, stressing the need for consistency in training and on the pitch.

With the highly awaited series to kick off on June 20 at Headingley in Leeds, the Indian team has been busy with practice since their arrival in the UK on June 7.

At the end of two grueling days of training, Morkel reflected in a video posted by the BCCI on social media about how the initial sessions already pushed the batters to the limit and helped get the bowlers in rhythm.

"The weather over the past two days has certainly been better for the fast bowlers, and that has made it a tough challenge for the batsmen," Morkel said. "It's good practice, as it makes them adapt early. But I don't anticipate the pitches during the Test matches to be so lively as the ones we have practiced with."

India will host an intra-squad match from Friday in Beckenham in preparation for the series. The Birmingham Test will be the second Test before the matches at Lord's (July 10), Old Trafford, and The Oval.

Morkel highlighted the lively interplay between the bowlers and batsmen in net practice. "There's been some ratty banter between bat and ball — but that's what happens when the surface provides a little bite. What I want to see is that same passion even when the wickets are flat. That's where real character comes out," he stated.

The tour also signals the start of the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship cycle for India and England. India's previous excursion in Test cricket was the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in January. There has been a white-ball tournament featuring most players since then in the IPL and the Champions Trophy.

Morkel recognized the lack of red-ball cricket but was heartened by the ferocity being displayed. "I was a little worried at first because we haven't done a lot of red-ball cricket lately," he conceded. "But after watching training over the last few days, I'm highly pleased with how the players are going about their business and preparing. There's a good energy and commitment in this group."

Highlighting the strength of India’s bowling arsenal, Morkel praised the variety within the attack. “We’ve got a good mix — different styles, different skills. That gives us the flexibility to adjust to different conditions. But at the end of the day, it’s about executing the basics well, staying consistent, and trusting your process.”

India's preparation now enters a crucial phase with the intra-squad match, which will provide players an opportunity to enter into match mode prior to the first Test in Leeds.