Morne Morkel addresses media in Ranchi.
Credit: Screegrab
India's bowling coach Morne Morkel said the squad has to quickly reset and refocus on white-ball cricket, as it hopes to bounce back from Test series defeat against South Africa.
India take on South Africa in a three-match ODI series starting on Sunday (November 30) at Ranchi.
The home side is coming into the three-match ODI series following a 0-2 whitewash against South Africa, losing Tests in Kolkata and Guwahati.
Morkel said the turnaround from Tests to white ball formats is mentally demanding but insisted the group was determined to do that shift.
“It was a disappointing two weeks for us, but we had a couple of days now to reflect,” Morkel said before the team's first practice session at the JSCA stadium in Ranchi.
“The important thing now is to give all our energy into the white-ball team. We've been playing a lot of good white-ball cricket over the last couple of years. I'm excited for the next couple of weeks. Representing India comes first, regardless of format," he said .
While the 2026 T20 World Cup looms large, Morkel dismissed the idea of using the ODI series merely as preparation for the marquee event.
“Preparation for the T20 World Cup is one thing, but every time you put on an India jersey, you represent a lot of people, the fans waiting outside the gates, cheering us on,” he said.
“For me, the focus is to bring momentum back into the Indian dressing room after a disappointing two weeks, and the way to do that is to play good, solid white-ball cricket,” he said, adding that he was excited to have veterans like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to be back in the squad.
With regular skipper Shubman Gill injured, K L Rahul would be leading India in the three-match series.
The Ranchi game would be followed by ODIs in Raipur (December 3) and Vishakhapatnam (December 6).
That will be followed by a five-match T20 series.
(with inputs from agencies)