The Indian cricket team’s preparation for the five-match Test series against England is in full swing, with bowling coach Morne Morkel providing insight into the team’s plans. Morkel lauded the squad’s zeal and professionalism in their training leading up to the intra-squad match between India and India A on June 13.

The team began on-site preparations on June 7, with strenuous training sessions. The workouts are being held not merely to familiarise the players with the circumstances, but also to prepare for England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach. Morkel acknowledged pleased with the intensity of the training and the requirements for success in England.

“The conditions were ideal for fast bowlers during the two-day practice. Early on in the tour, it’s quite thrilling because it boosts their confidence and tests the batters, which helps them prepare for what’s to come. I don’t think the wickets will be as spicy as the ones we have here. There’s been a lot of good banter between bat and ball, but I believe it’s simply because the wickets are a little spicy,” he stated in a video broadcast by the BCCI.

We have a terrific group. Morne Morkel

Notably, the pace department will play an important role in India’s campaign. With Jasprit Bumrah returning to red-ball cricket after nearly six months, Morkel highlighted the necessity of easing him back in with many spells during the practice game. Along with Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, and Prasidh Krishna will form the backbone of India’s pace attack, with Shardul Thakur and Nitish Reddy providing all-round seam alternatives.

“As soon as the wickets fall flat, you know the bowlers are going to back off. So I’m going to tell them to chat not only while the wickets are nipping around, but even when the pitch is flat. That’s where we’ll need the character. And now it’s all about gradually working up to that first Test match. Consistency is the most important thing for me, and I believe it is especially important in England. It’s about being consistent off the pitch, figuring out what works best for you as an individual.

“Our (bowling) attack is diverse, with a wide range of skills. So you know they perform well and execute the fundamentals properly. Overall, I’m pleased with the progress so far. I was concerned about the lack of red-ball (cricket) games we’d played, but watching how the boys have moved around and trained over the last three days has been encouraging,” he added.

This series marks a new era in Indian cricket, with Shubman Gill taking over full-time Test captaincy and huge stars like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin departing. It also begins off India’s campaign in the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle, where they want to make the final after losing out in the previous cycle.

The bowling instructor also stressed the group’s energy and drive for victory.

“I believe we have a wonderful bunch here at the moment. There’s some quality energy in this group, which is exactly what you need (coming into) a test set – confidence… Have a team spirit inside the group. Morkel remarked, “I think they’ve done a great job so far.”