WATCH: Morne Morkel bowls to KL Rahul and rest of Indian batters in the nets ahead of Pune Test

Team India members are busy sweating it out in preparation for the second Test match against New Zealand. In the last game, seamers William O Rourke and Matt Henry troubled the home team batters with their bounce and movement. Rohit Sharma and his side were all out for just 46 in their first innings. 

India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel was seen bowling at full tilt donning the blues in the nets. One of the batters he bowled to was KL Rahul who is coming into the game under huge pressure. BCCI’s official Instagram handle put out the video where the 40-year-old could be seen bending his back. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Team India (@indiancricketteam)

The former South African star said, “The day when I arrived here in Pune there was live grass, I first started bowling to Siraj and a couple of balls nipped. And then when KL walked in, I said let me get some bowling shoes and just relive some of the old battles and memories.”

Interestingly, Morne Morkel made his Test debut against India in 2006 at the famous Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. It was in the same game that India recorded their first win against South Africa away from home as Sreesanth took 8 wickets. Morkel ended his career in 2018 with over 300 Test wickets to his name. 

Morne Morkel was seen helping KL Rahul iron out his flaws 

India’s bowling coach while speaking to BCCI’s Instagram handle said, “I need to remind myself that I am 40 and not 23 anymore, and the last I bowled was almost like a year ago. The boys asked me, sort of when in joined if I’m still fit enough to bowl, and I said don’t worry the day will come.”

The former South African bowling star also said, “I had to really, when I walked back to my mark, do a lot of conversation, self talk and do the same. Just calm down, the last thing you do is get injured, pull a hamstring and embarrass yourself. So I allowed myself to the big no-balls, which gave me that extra bit of zip. And then injury prevention was the main thing.”

When asked if Morkel would continue to bowl in the nets, the 40-year-old replied, “I have bowled too many overs in India that reminded me that the surface is hard and slow and low. Don’t be silly. So, definitely, England and Australia where there’ll be a little more assistance, whenever if I can get an opportunity, I would like to bowl.”

Rohit Sharma’s side has to win the game in a bid to tie the series 1-1 before the series reaches its conclusion in Mumbai. The pitch in Pune is expected to play a key role as far as the toss is concerned. Washington Sundar has also been added to the team with New Zealand having three left-handed batters.