Xtra Time Web Desk: Former India pacer Ashish Nehra was the man behind Gujarat Titans successful campaign in IPL 2022. He was the unsung hero for Titans, always willing to stay behind the scenes. Nehra set a record by becoming the first Indian head coach to win the IPL. In all the previous 14 editions of the Indian Premier League, the title-winning side had a foreign head coach but this season it was different. The man himself attributed his success to each and every individual in the team and also his family who has been the pillars of his strength.
The simple yet effective way of Ashish Nehra’s coaching was a stand out feature of Gujarat Titans’ winning the IPL trophy in its maiden season. The former cricketer from Delhi has tried to keep his coaching tactics less complicated. A picture of Nehra working with a sheet of paper and another one where he is seen drinking coconut water has gone viral.
The likes of Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia and Wriddhiman Saha all found their peak under the coaching of Nehra.
Nehra also became only the third cricketer to have won the IPL both as a head coach and as a player after Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne. The former India left-arm seamer played for Sunrisers Hyderabad when they won IPL in 2016 under David Warner’s captaincy.
Nehra was well-supported by former Team India coach Gary Kirsten, who was the mentor of the side. In fact, both Gary and Nehra won the 2011 World Cup. They were both part of Royal Challengers Bangalore as well.