Ashish Nehra – the name reminds Indian cricket fans of a prolific pacer, who could dismiss any batter with his exceptional swing in his heyday. Recognised for his unique, side on bowling action, Nehra made his international debut in a Test match against Sri Lanka in 1999.
The Delhi-born cricketer jetted off to Zimbabwe for his maiden ODI series in 2001 but history was created in the red-ball leg of the tour. With his unplayable swing and pace, Nehra helped India script a Test victory outside of the subcontinent after 15 years.
Ashish Nehra did not take much time to prove himself as an all-format specialist and found his spot in the Indian squad which featured in the 2003 ICC ODI World Cup in South Africa. It was the tournament where Nehra recorded his best-ever ODI bowling figures. In a match against England, the left-arm pacer claimed a six-wicket haul while giving away only 23 runs.
It has been nearly seven years since Ashish Nehra announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. He, however, remains a familiar name in the IPL circuit. After hanging up his boots as a player, Nehra shifted his focus to coaching. Today, on his 45th birthday, let’s take a look at Nehra’s stint as a coach in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Bowling Coach
Ashish Nehra’s first assignment came in 2018 when Royal Challengers Bengaluru appointed him as their bowling coach. He served the role for two seasons and worked alongside former India head coach Gary Kirsten. Despite having some top-quality cricketers in the team, Ashish Nehra could not guide the Bengaluru-based franchise to glory.
Gujarat Titans’ Head Coach
Ahead of the 2022 IPL, Ashish Nehra joined the newly formed Gujarat Titans as their head coach. The team, led by Hardik Pandya, set an example of grit and determination.
GT won ten of their 14 league matches to finish at the top of the table. They excelled in the playoffs as well and secured the IPL title by defeating Rajasthan Royals at a full-house Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Ashish Nehra has been at the helm of GT in the ongoing season of the IPL. GT have so far claimed four wins from eight games in this season’s IPL.
