India's bowling coach Morne Morkel was conspicuously absent from the team’s practice session at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi right ahead of their T20I series against Afghanistan. According to a report by PTI, Morkel is currently in his home country of South Africa resolving administrative issues regarding his visa renewal. Consequently, the Men in Blue have had to kick off their pre-series preparations without their chief bowling coach.
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The upcoming three-match leg will be held entirely at Delhi's Kotla from September 13 to 17. In a unique arrangement, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) serves as the official host for the bilateral contest despite all three games taking place on Indian soil. While Morkel is expected to link back up with the squad as soon as his travel documentation is cleared, no definitive timeline has been established for his arrival.
This series marks only the second multi-game bilateral encounter between India and Afghanistan in two decades, following their previous multi-format leg featuring Test and ODI fixtures. This time, the focus shifts strictly to the shortest format for a three-match T20I clash. Although all three matches are being staged in New Delhi, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) serves as the official host, effectively turning the venue into an away assignment for the Men in Blue. Facing a strong Indian unit, the ACB has picked its premier T20 squad to maximize their chances. Meanwhile, bowling coach Morne Morkel's temporary absence adds a layer of intrigue to India's buildup. Earlier reports had hinted at a potential staff shake-up involving Morkel and former assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate; while ten Doeschate ultimately departed, Morkel stayed on and has since made a notable impact on the bowling pipeline, particularly in nurturing several pace-bowling options and seam all-rounders across formats. With all-rounders expected to play a central role in the upcoming series, all eyes are on how quickly Morkel can complete his paperwork in South Africa and rejoin the setup before the opening fixture on September 13.