Morne Morkel unhappy with Hardik Pandya's bowling approach in nets
Hardik Pandya is set to return to the international cricket scene as India prepares for a three-match T20I series against Bangladesh. The series follows India's impressive 2-0 series triumph over Bangladesh earlier this week. The upcoming T20Is will feature prominent Indian players who were not part of the Test side, including captain Suryakumar Yadav. The Test regulars won't be a part of this series.
Hardik's training session with Morkel
Hardik was recently spotted practicing with a red ball, sparking rumors about his possible return to the Test format. However, former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel clarified that the white ball was not available at the time, leading Hardik to use the red one. Ahead of the first T20I in Gwalior, Hardik participated in an intense training session under bowling coach Morne Morkel's supervision.
Morkel's feedback on Hardik's bowling technique
During the training session, Morkel reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with Hardik's tendency to bowl close to the stumps. According to the Indian Express, the former South African pacer was seen offering advice after every delivery, focusing on Hardik's release point. The all-rounder accepted this feedback sportingly before Morkel moved on to guide other bowlers during the net session.
Hardik's journey in T20I and ODI cricket
Hardik, like Suryakumar, is primarily involved in the T20I setup. Despite being a regular in ODIs, he was not selected for the three-match series against Sri Lanka in August. There are suggestions that Hardik may participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy to demonstrate his fitness for the ODI format. His last ODI appearance was during last year's World Cup at home where he sustained an injury while fielding off his own bowling during a group stage match against Bangladesh.
