Morne Morkel backs KL Rahul to play key role in India’s Test series against Sri Lanka

In Galle on August 14, 2026, India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel backed wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul to play an important role in India’s upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. Morkel made the remarks during a pre-match press conference ahead of the first Test, which begins on August 15 at the Galle International Stadium.

India will open the two-match Test series on August 15 at the Galle International Stadium. Rahul is the only member remaining from India’s 2017 touring side’s batting group, a continuity Morkel highlighted as valuable for the squad in Galle. A photo accompanying the coverage showed KL Rahul in action during a training session ahead of the first Test, credited to ANI. Morkel pointed to Rahul’s experience and communication as assets that can aid the younger players’ adjustment to local conditions.

Speaking to reporters at the pre-match press conference, Morkel praised Rahul’s recent batting and said his experience and communication will help the younger players prepare for the conditions in Sri Lanka. He emphasised the role senior players can play in net sessions and team preparation ahead of the match.

“KL, the last couple of years, the way he’s been leading up front with the batting has been exceptional, and that’s a sort of communication that we expect him to speak to the guys here in the preparation at the nets and about what to expect. But I think, our guys have learned a lot about their games individually over the last couple of months and that’s one of the reasons why we’ve come out here 10 days earlier to give the guys the best opportunity to prepare to work on their individual game plans and individual game plans, and yeah, just to figure out how they’re going to score on the surface here,” Morkel said.

India’s first Test in the two-match series against Sri Lanka starts on August 15 at the Galle International Stadium, with the teams contesting the opening match of the tour.