Gujarat Titans (GT) is sitting at the top of the points table with 4 wins from 5 matches with a massive NRR of +1.413. The side under the coach Ashish Nehra is just 3-4 wins away from securing a play-offs spot from the remaining 9 matches in the league stage. There’s no doubt that Ashish Nehra has turned the tables in favor of GT, but at what cost? Let’s find out.
Ashish Nehra, a cricket coach or football manager
After losing the opening encounter against PBKS, GT looked battered & bruised with their bowlers thrashed. Shubman Gill who is leading the side for a consecutive edition, is relatively naive to lead the side. GT has made a remarkable comeback by winning 4 matches on the bounce.
Ashish Nehra can be seen as an animated coach who is constantly having a conversation with Shubman Gill or another player on the boundary rope, hardly taking a breather. Shubman Gill is setting the fielding as instructed by Ashish Nehra and also the change of bowler guidelines is given every now and then.
We all are perhaps forgetting even Nehra that in IPL we have 2 strategic time outs at 6-9 overs and then 13-16 overs per innings. In this time-out, the coaches have a 2 and half minute break to discuss the next set of plans, but still, GT head coach Ashish Nehra wants to have immense control of the match by standing on bthe oundary rope and not only giving tips but wanting the course of action to be the same
Ashish Nehra, without a doubt, has made not-so-strong GT a team to beat with his tactics but isn’t he making Shubman Gill too much dependent and other players? GT head coach gives vibes of a football manager/coach who wants to win at all costs, but is it really necessary in cricket, especially in IPL, where players already are professionals, not just street cricketers who you tell every ball what to do?
Ashish Nehra, undisputed IPL winner, & concerns ahead
Ashish Nehra got GT to the glory in IPL 2022 & were finalists in 2023 when the then skipper Hardik Pandya was the skipper in charge. Even then, we had witnessed the duo being a force to reckon with, the tactics were remarkably outstanding. GT, within a short span of 4 years, has overshadowed the champion teams MI & CSK.
If we look at other coaches, for example, Mahela Jayawardene of MI, he led MI to the title as a head coach in IPL 2017, 2019, and 2020, but we rarely see him losing his cool in the dugout even when ‘n’ times Rohit Sharma was in a spot of bother while defending target. CSK’s head coach, Stephen Fleming, is also another example who lets players take their own decisions and let the skipper manage his team and find a way out.
Another example is RCB’s head coach Andy Flower, the most wanted head coach in the franchise circuit, who has made a name for himself not only in the franchise circuit but also in International teams with previously being the head coach of England. PBKS’ head coach Ricky Ponting who was such a fierce and the most successful leader but while coaching he lets the skipper & other players make their own decisions.
Gujarat Titans (GT), with the squad and winning mindset, for a moment, we can say they can win the title in 2025. But head coach’s job is to train the players before the match, it would sound very harsh but Nehra’s coaching looks like he wants to show to IPL that a head coach can win IPL alone as all the praises as of now towards Shubman Gill are a tout as the unofficial skipper of GT is Ashish Nehra who has a sharp cricketing mind but given how IPL 2023 final panned out, it would require a monumental effort for Nehra to win GT an IPL.
Also Read: GT vs RR: Gujarat Titans’ (GT) Continue Their Juggernaut & Dismantle RR; Win By 58 Runs