Ashish Nehra is tactically one of the best coaches in IPL: Gary Kirsten

When Gujarat Titans defeated Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2022 Finals to lift their maiden trophy, it was Hardik Pandya and his teammates who basked in the glory. The two men that remained on the periphery just like they did throughout the tournament, were Gary Kirsten and Ashish Nehra. 

Ashish Nehra became the first Indian coach to win the IPL trophy in its 14-year history. Kirsten recently revealed Nehra’s mantra and his philosophy as a coach. The former Indian quick is a firm believer in having different plans and strategies in the arsenal to deal with tough situations in the ever-changing scenarios of a T20 match.

“Ashish wants his players to have options and he helps them understand when to use them. A set game plan is not possible in the IPL; the matches are extremely complex with new scenarios happening all the time. This requires in-the-moment planning and players who can think for themselves and adjust a game plan or use a different strategy in an over. As coaches, we help the players think through this,” the World Cup-winning coach said while speaking to Cricbuzz.

Ashish Nehra is a close friend, says Gary Kirsten

The South African had previously worked with Nehra when he was the coach of the Indian side. The duo was also part of the coaching staff at RCB before being sacked by the franchise. Gary Kirsten has praised the former left-arm quick’s understanding of the game and how he keeps himself out of the spotlight despite being one of the best coaches in the IPL.

“Ashish is a close friend and we have walked a long journey together. As a player, I enjoyed his willingness to keep understanding his game and his professionalism. He coaches with his heart, always thinking about his players and how he can help them. He’s low profile and does not like the spotlight. He is tactically one of the best coaches in the IPL and is always talking to his players about how to make better performances,” added Kirsten.

Nehra is currently the third Indian head coach in the IPL, along with Anil Kumble (Punjab Kings) and Sanjay Bangar (Royal Challengers Bangalore).