Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Morkel: Heat, Humidity and Soft Ball India's Biggest Test Challenges
India's cricket team is getting ready to play a big Test series against Sri Lanka.
Two of their fastest bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana, are injured and cannot play.
Another fast bowler, Mohammed Shami, has not played a Test match since June 2023 because of injury and fitness concerns.
So India does not have all of its usual fast bowlers.
The bowling coach, Morne Morkel, says that is okay and he is not too worried.
He says the biggest challenge will be the very hot and humid weather in Sri Lanka.
When it is hot, the cricket ball becomes soft after about 20 to 35 overs, which makes it harder to bowl.
He says the team must be smart about using the crease and bowling short balls.
India also has many skilled spin bowlers, so playing three spinners could be a strong attacking plan.
India needs to win the series to keep its hopes of reaching the World Test Championship final alive.
India face Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series starting 15 August without injured pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana.
Bowling coach Morne Morkel says the biggest challenges are the heat, the humidity and a Kookaburra ball that goes soft after 20-35 overs.
Mohammed Siraj leads the pace attack with 140 wickets from 46 Tests, alongside Prasidh Krishna and uncapped debutants Gurnoor Brar and Auqib Nabi.
Morkel downplayed concerns about playing three spinners, citing the skills of Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain.
India sit fifth in the WTC 2025-27 cycle and must win the series to keep their hopes of reaching the 2027 World Test Championship final alive.
- Who
- India's bowling coach Morne Morkel, captain Shubman Gill, and a pace attack led by Mohammed Siraj
- What
- India are preparing for a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka with a depleted pace attack, with Morkel citing heat, humidity and the Kookaburra ball as the biggest challenges
- When
- First Test starts 15 August; Morkel spoke to journalists in Sri Lanka on Thursday
- Where
- Sri Lanka
- Why
- Pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Harshit Rana are injured, Mohammed Shami has fitness concerns, and hot, humid conditions could favour spin bowling
- Series
- India vs Sri Lanka, two-match Test series
- First Test
- 15 August
- Key absent players
- Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar, Nitish Reddy, Sai Sudharsan
- Mohammed Shami's last Test
- June 2023, World Test Championship final vs Australia
- Pace attack
- Mohammed Siraj (140 wickets, 46 Tests), Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Auqib Nabi
- Spin options
- Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Saransh Jain
- Kuldeep Yadav's form
- 2/76 vs Sri Lanka XI; nine wickets in five One Day Cup matches for Yorkshire
- India's WTC position
- Fifth in the 2025-27 cycle: four wins, four losses, one draw in nine Tests
