Hands-on, carefree, headstrong, funny, hard-working — and what not — this is Ashish Nehra for you. Once, he made a critical remark about Chennai Super Kings — a claim that turned out to be unfounded. But cricket has a way of bringing things full circle: he later played for CSK and came to appreciate what the team truly stood for.
Today, Nehra is something of an enigma in Indian cricket. He doesn’t aspire to be the head coach of the Indian team, yet he embodies all the qualities you’d want in one — insight, leadership, and an unfiltered passion for the game. He’s content in the IPL circuit, and why not? Just look at how brilliantly the Gujarat Titans are performing under his mentorship.
Nehra is managing both batters and bowlers with such ease, it’s like second nature to him. In fact, he’s so effortlessly in control that if you ever wanted to buy property in Goa — where he’s based these days — Nehra might just hook you up with the best sea-facing deal in town. That’s the kind of all-rounder he is, both on and off the field. It feels like there’s nothing he can’t do.
Take the Titans for example — they don’t boast a squad full of superstars. Sure, Shubman Gill is a rising star, but he isn’t quite a superstar yet. And still, under Nehra’s guidance, Gill suddenly looks like a seasoned, top-class captain. That’s the Nehra effect.
Nehra doesn’t just coach; he controls the game from the sidelines, reading situations, guiding players, and influencing outcomes without ever stepping onto the field. It’s mentorship on a whole different level — calm, intuitive, and razor-sharp.
So what if it’s primarily the top three batters — Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler — who are winning them the league matches? The unsung story lies in the bowling unit, which Nehra has groomed with equal care and precision. Bowlers like Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma, and Prasidh Krishna have all bought into Nehra’s game plans and responded brilliantly.
Under his guidance, they’ve shown consistency, composure, and clarity in their roles — and that’s no coincidence. As the tournament progresses, Nehra will be counting on them to carry forward this momentum. And if past results are anything to go by, they won’t disappoint. Really, Lajawaab Nehra!