Harbhajan Singh suggests Ashish Nehra’s name to BCCI after firing Abhishek Nayar, says ‘there is no better coach than him’
New Delhi: Following Abhishek Nayar’s dismissal as assistant coach, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to announce whether a replacement will be sought. Considering the team already has a bowling coach (Morne Morkel), fielding coach (Ryan ten Doeschate), and batting coach (Sitanshu Kotal), the need for an additional assistant coach under head coach Gautam Gambhir is questionable. While a replacement isn’t currently considered necessary, Ashish Nehra’s name has been suggested as a potential candidate should the BCCI decide to fill the position.
Ashish Nehra, Gujarat Titans’ coach, has overseen the team’s success since its IPL debut in 2022, including a championship win. Despite a less successful 2023 season, his coaching abilities remain highly regarded, particularly given the Titans’ current league-leading position. While his coaching experience is relatively short, former teammate Harbhajan Singh advocates strongly for Nehra as the best candidate for future BCCI roles.
“I think there is no better coach than him for the Indian team in the present scenario. He is a great coach. BCCI should ask him whether he wants to work with the Indian team or not. I don’t think he will agree because he won’t be able to give that much time. But there it no better option than him,” Harbhajan said in a video posted on his official YouTube channel.
Ashish Nehra’s dedication to the Gujarat Titans is undeniable. He’s consistently engaged, actively coaching players on the field, offering guidance and instruction. His passionate coaching style, even resulting in a memorable moment during their first IPL 2025 game, is a testament to his commitment. Nehra remains involved throughout the entire match day, and even during downtime, he participates in team activities. His intense involvement is widely recognized, including by fellow coach Harbhajan Singh.
Gujarat Titans’ (GT) success is evident in their strong showing in both batting and bowling. Three GT batsmen (Sai Sudarshan, Jos Buttler, and Shubman Gill) rank among the league’s top ten run-scorers, and three GT bowlers (Prasidh Krishna, Sai Kishore, and Mohammed Siraj) are within the top six bowlers. Harbhajan Singh highlights the unique coaching approach of Ashish Nehra, emphasizing his strategic thinking as a key factor in GT’s performance.
“Well done, Ashish Nehra. From the day he joined, he has breathed life into this team. Every year this team comes prepared. People say that a left-arm spinner can’t bowl to left-handed batters, or that an off-spinner can’t bowl to right-handed batters, but Ashish Nehra’s bowlers have done it all. It is about the mindset, and this is what Ashish Nehra brings,” added Harbhajan.
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