India Fast Bowling Workload After IPL: Morne Morkel Highlights Challenge Ahead of Five-Test Series
India fast bowling workload has become a serious talking point in the aftermath of IPL 2025, with national bowling coach Morne Morkel expressing concern over pacers’ readiness for the grueling five-Test series against England. Despite a 17-day gap between the end of IPL and the first Test at Headingley on June 20, Morkel said it was difficult to strike the right balance between conditioning, rotation, and recovery.
IPL-to-Test Transition: A Growing Problem
Speaking after India’s disappointing performance with the ball in the fourth Test at Manchester, Morkel admitted that the scheduling and fast bowlers’ fitness are becoming hard to manage, especially after players return from a two-month long high-intensity T20 league. India fast bowling workload
“It’s a real test. We play three-Test match series a lot, and this is now our first time in a while when we’ve done this with five. It shouldn’t be an excuse, but in terms of conditioning, getting our guys ready for a five-Test series coming straight up after IPL is sometimes an issue,” Morkel explained.
Siraj Overworked, Bumrah Rotated, Kamboj Unproven
India’s bowling strategy for the series saw Jasprit Bumrah being rested strategically, playing only three Tests. Mohammed Siraj, on the other hand, played all four so far, shouldering a heavy burden.
With injuries ruling out Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep, India had to draft in uncapped Anshul Kamboj for the fourth Test. Kamboj, who barely clocked 130 kmph, struggled under pressure, highlighting the lack of depth in experienced fast-bowling options. India fast bowling workload
“We’ve got Siraj, we’ve got Bumrah who played a few games, and then Akash played a little before getting injured. So we keep trying new guys, but it’s not easy at the moment,” Morkel said.
The Need for a Core Bowling Group
Morkel emphasized the importance of building a core group of five to six fast bowlers who can be rotated and trusted to step up when needed. India fast bowling workload
“You have to balance Test matches, allow recovery, and maintain their bowling loads. That’s why we need a strong core of bowlers who can replace each other and still do the job,” he added.
This reflects a shift in India’s long-term planning, where injury-prone players like Taskin Ahmed in Bangladesh or Mark Wood in England have also needed such management strategies. India fast bowling workload
Fatigue Shows on the Field
India’s bowlers looked flat on day two in Manchester, before a marginal improvement on day three. Morkel didn’t shy away from acknowledging the sub-par effort and admitted that Kamboj looked out of his depth.
“There’s no place to hide in international cricket. It’s a big learning curve for Kamboj. The team is supporting him, but it’s important for him to see the levels required to succeed here,” Morkel said.
The Bigger Picture: World Test Championship and Beyond
With the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle heating up, and with the India vs Australia series coming up in 2026, managing fast bowlers after IPL will remain a critical issue. The IPL is unlikely to move its window, and Morkel’s comments indicate that the BCCI might need to decouple national workload from franchise demands. India fast bowling workload
This could mean resting key bowlers during IPL or using IPL only for returning-from-injury pacers, something Australia has done with players like Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. India fast bowling workload
Conclusion
The India fast bowling workload after IPL is no longer just a theoretical issue—it’s impacting squad depth, match performance, and long-term planning. Morne Morkel’s honest assessment throws light on the difficulty of managing elite pacers across formats. India fast bowling workload
As India looks ahead to a packed calendar, including the Asia Cup, WTC fixtures, and Test tours, the challenge will be to keep key fast bowlers like Bumrah, Siraj, and Arshdeep fresh and fit. Rotation policies, rest windows, and perhaps a rethink of IPL scheduling for centrally contracted players may be the only way forward.
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