Morne Morkel furious with Hardik Pandya's bowling, engages in heated discussion with all-rounder

As the Indian cricket team gears up to return to T20 action with the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, Hardik Pandya has returned to the spotlight, with the rumors suggesting his clash with the bowling coach, Morne Morkel.

Fresh off a stunning 2-0 Test series victory against Bangladesh earlier this week, the Indian team is buzzing with confidence. With the focus now shifting to T20I cricket, the return of Suryakumar Yadav and the star all-rounder Hardik Pandya sparked excitement among the fans.

Hardik Pandya returns to the spotlight before the T20I series against Bangladesh as he leaves Morne Morkel unhappy

Hardik Pandya, who has been a key member of the team, is making his much-anticipated comeback to international cricket after winning the T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and Caribbean. Speculations were rife when the Indian all-rounder was spotted training with a red ball recently, leading to chatter about a potential return to Test cricket.

However, the former Indian wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel clarified that the unavailability of a white ball forced Hardik Pandya to practice with the red ball. Meanwhile, ahead of the first T20I in Gwalior, Hardik was seen giving his all during the training session, much to the interest of bowling coach Morkel.

Later, reports emerged that Morne Morkel wasn’t fully satisfied with Hardik Pandya’s bowling line, and he was constantly advising him to adjust his release point.

According to the Indian Express, 'unhappy' Morne Morkel engaged in an intense discussion with Hardik Pandya regarding his release point, and the all-rounder received the advice positively.

After addressing Hardik Pandya, Morkel shifted his focus to the other bowlers during the net session. However, they were reportedly involved in animated discussions at the nets.

Hardik Pandya likely to participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy

Meanwhile, Hardik’s journey back to the international stage has been a rollercoaster. The Mumbai Indians (MI) captain has been a key player in the T20I team, but his absence from the ODI squad during the three-match series against Sri Lanka in August raised eyebrows.

It is being said that Hardik was advised to participate in the Vijay Hazare Trophy to prove his fitness for the ODI cricket, having been sidelined from the format since the 2023 ODI World Cup.

As the team set to face Bangladesh in the three-match T20I series from Sunday, September 6, they will soon shift their focus back to the Test format with the upcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand, scheduled to be held in Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai.

Suryakumar Yadav to lead strong Indian team against Bangladesh

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already announced the squad for the T20I series against the Bangladesh National Cricket Team.

Suryakumar Yadav is set to lead a star-studded line-up that has the likes of Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh, and Hardik Pandya.

Pace-bowling sensation Mayank Yadav has been picked in the team and is likely to make his debut while star batter Abhishek Sharma has returned to the team missing out on Sri Lanka T20Is.