Don't want to change anybody's game in two-three months says Ashish Nehra

Ashish Nehra, who retired from international cricket just three months ago will now be assuming a new role in the IPL. The comeback man will be seen as the bowling coach for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 11th edition of the IPL. The 11th edition of the mega tournament is just about 25 days away and the excitement amongst the fans is building up.

Nehraji, as he is fondly called seems to be excited to work as the bowling coach with the RCB. Although the former India pacer has no plan to make his debut on social media, he looks keen to talk about the debut he is going to make soon. Nehra spoke about various aspects regarding IPL this year when he attended a promotional match organized by his IPL team.

‘You need bowlers to win matches’: Ashish Nehra

Nehra said that this is a new beginning for him. He is excited about the challenges ahead and also hoped that RCB will pass the final hurdle this year. “It is a new beginning for me. Everybody knows that how big a  franchisee RCB has been. They have reached final three times, but couldn’t cross the last hurdle. So hoping for a good season,” Nehra said.

Furthermore, Nehra will be working alongside his World Cup-winning coach in the RCB camp. Nehra added that man management skills are more important than teaching the bowlers something new. “It will be more of a man-management thing for me, as I don’t want to use the word coaching for my job at this stage. I see coaching from a player’s point of view. I was playing until three-four months ago. So whatever I wanted from a coach, I will try to give it to my players,” he told TOI.

“I can’t and don’t want to change anybody’s game in the two-three months. I just want to change their frame of mind if there is a need for it. All my bowlers know how to bowl, but my job would be to tell them what to bowl when” the player-turned-commentator added.

Bowlers equally important in T20s

Although the T20 format might seem to be tough on the bowlers, Nehra said that it is people’s perspective that is different towards the bowlers.”As a batter even if you don’t score for five-six innings, and then you score a 120-ball 40 or a 130-ball 50, it is more highlighted. But it is another way around for a bowler. You might pick three wickets in four overs giving away 25 runs, it may go unnoticed. But if you give 60 runs in four overs, it will get highlighted,” the Delhi player said.

“But in terms of cricketing contribution, I feel bowlers have an equal role to play, especially at a venue like Bangalore or Mumbai, where everybody knows wicket is going to be a belter. Be it Tests, ODIs or T20s, bowlers have to do well to win the match. You can’t win a Test match by scoring a 1,000 runs. You will have to take 20 wickets to win it,” he added. He concluded by saying that he’ll get to know the players better when he meets them at the camp.