Sports
IPL 2022: Ashish Nehra, the mind behind Gujarat Titans’ success, scripts history and breaks stereotypes

The ‘millennials’ might have not faith in his coaching, but the veterans of cricketing community always had the belief in Ashish Nehra’s game reading ability and tactical acumen and the former India fast bowler just proved it by playing a crucial role in Gujarat Titans’ IPL 2022 title win.
The Hardik-Pandya led Gujarat Titans (GT) got their hands on the coveted Indian Premier League (IPL) trophy in their very first season after they beat Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
If Hardik was Gujarat’s hero on the field, off the field it was the support staff led by Nehra that played a vital role in GT winning the IPL title.
With the victory, Nehra etched his name on the history books of the cash-rich league. The former left-arm pacer became the first Indian head coach to win the IPL. Notably, in all the previous 14 editions of the IPL, the title-winning side had a foreign head coach but Nehra broke the pattern with GT this year.
The 43-year-old 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. Nehra played for Sunrisers Hyderabad when they won IPL in 2016 under David Warner’s captaincy. Ponting was a part of the Mumbai Indians squad when they won their maiden IPL title in 2013 and he was MI’s head coach when they won their second title in 2015. The legendary Shane Warne was both the coach and captain of the Rajasthan Royals when they won the inaugural edition in 2008.
Entering a highly-competitive league like the IPL as a new team and clinching the title in the very first season is a dream stuffy but it wasn’t easy. Watching the final Gujarat squad after the mega auction, most cricket pundits, analysts and even the fans didn’t give Gujarat much of a chance to finish in the top-four. Most experts felt that Gujarat, while assembling a good group, were a bit thin in their batting.
There were also apprehensions about Pandya’s bowling fitness as well as his captaincy skills, given that he had led only once in senior cricket previously. And remember, Nehra worked as the bowling coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore along with Gary Kirsten, who served as their head coach but both were sacked after the 2019 season.
Nehra even had become a ‘meme’ content for many social media users, who perhaps didn’t see him play and deliver for India at crucial junctures’ and just saw him as a cricket analyst.
But, the deadly captain and head coach duo of Hardik and Nehra along with Vikram Solan (Director of Cricket), Gary Kirsten (Batting coach and mentor) and other support staff of GT cracked the winning formula, put an end to all the doubts and won the trophy with sheer domination. In the whole tournament, Gujarat lost just four matches, out of the 16 games which they played, which shows their domination and class.
“It’s a great feeling. More than winning the trophy, the most important thing was the way we played and it was very heartening to see. Under your leadership, the boys gelled very well,” Nehra told skipper Pandya in a fun interview after winning the trophy.
Meanwhile, mentor Gary Kirsten said he enjoyed working with Nehra, rating him as one of the finest tacticians going around.
“I’ve loved working with Ashish, he’s really strong tactically – trying to put a game plan together on the fly is not easy. There are so many variables in each game, but what I’ve enjoyed has been the responsibility players have taken to win games for us,” Kirsten said.
Nehra’s success as the coach also broke many stereotypes, which were there in the IPL for a long long time.
In the history of IPL, it has been observed that franchises are obsessed with having a foreign head coach and they don’t trust the ability of an Indian guy in the main. There were only three Indians — Sanjay Bangar (RCB), Anil Kumble (PBKS) and Ashish Nehra (GT) — who served as the head coach of their respective franchises in IPL 2022. However, with the former Indian fast bowler getting success as a head coach with GT, the number could go up in the upcoming seasons.
Also, throughout the tournament, Nehra looked relaxed and was often spotted without a laptop or technology, reminding everyone that keeping things simple could also win team matches without “over-analysing” things.
In the modern cricketing era, coaches and captains have often been seen relying too much on data analytics, match-ups, especially in T20 cricket. There is no denying that technology helps in enhancing a few facets of the game, but too much reliance on the data can also complicate things. The basic cricketing instincts and reading the game situation well at the crucial junctures of the game still rule the cricket.
Overall, Nehra can become a role model for many coaches in terms of keeping things simple, believing in their abilities, taking tactical decisions and building a good environment in the dressing room.
National News
IND vs PAK, Asia Cup 2025: How Team India & Pakistan Can Again Meet On September 21? Scenario Explained

The much-anticipated Asia Cup 2025 clash between India and Pakistan at the Dubai International Stadium on September 14, Sunday was a one-sided fixture as the Men in Blue sealed a comfortable seven-wicket victory. However, fans have the prospect of watching the two teams lock horns again on September 21 if Pakistan qualify for the Super 4.
Pakistan face a boom or bust defeat after a humiliating defeat to the Men in Blue on Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium. While the Men in Green still boasts of a positive net run-rate, they must beat UAE in their final group game on Wednesday. Should Pakistan qualify from Group A, they will play India on September 21 in Dubai.
If Pakistan lose their match to UAE and UAE beat Oman, UAE will have four points under their belt, enabling them to progress.
UAE are currently at the bottom of the points table in Group A with a net run-rate of -10.483. But two wins will take the net run-rate out of equation. UAE can still qualify if they beat Pakistan and their game against Oman is washed out due to rain as their points tally will be higher. For Oman to qualify, they must beat an in-form Indian side and UAE. Additionally, they must also hope for Pakistan to face a loss or no result against UAE.
Meanwhile, tensions boiled over after the match as the Indian team refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterpart following the win. As a result, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha did not do the post-game presentation duties.
Hence, fans can expect heightened tensions should the two teams meet again in the multi-nation tournament.
National News
Ind v Pak, Asia Cup: When and where to watch Sunday’s mega encounter

New Delhi, Sep 13: India and Pakistan are set to renew their rivalry when they clash in a Group A fixture of the ongoing Asia Cup in Dubai on Sunday. Both teams come into the high-voltage encounter after comfortable wins over the UAE and Oman, but their journeys since the last World Cup have followed different trajectories.
Pakistan have endured a turbulent period, struggling to find consistency and forge a clear identity as a team. Their batting has often looked brittle, while their bowling, once their strongest suit, has lacked the same sharpness. In contrast, India have grown into a formidable force, boasting a lethal combination of in-form batters and a bowling attack widely regarded as the best in the world.
Given their balance and depth, India will once again enter the contest as favourites. Yet, with the weight of history and rivalry, Pakistan remain capable of springing a surprise.
In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, many fans and former cricketers have voiced strong anger towards Pakistan, with some even questioning whether the match should go ahead.
However, the Indian government gave clearance for the much-anticipated game, allowing the country to play against Pakistan in “international and multilateral events”, but can’t engage in “bilateral sports events in each other’s country”.
Despite getting the official nod, there is not much hype for the weekend’s clash as tickets were available online on Saturday, a day before the match, which is not the case for matches between the nemesis.
Live Streaming details:
The match will be telecast on the Sony Sports Network and streamed on the SonyLIV app and website in India.
Squads:
India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh.
Pakistan: Salman Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Mohammad Wasim Jr.
National News
‘Hardik Is Like A…’: Shivam Dube Praises Hardik Pandya After India’s Dominant Win Over UAE In Asia Cup 2025

Following India’s emphatic 9-wicket victory over UAE in their Asia Cup 2025 opener, all-rounder Shivam Dube addressed the media at the post-match press conference, where he reflected on the match and also spoke warmly about fellow all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
Dube, who played a key role with the ball in dismantling the UAE batting lineup, was asked about frequent comparisons drawn between him and Hardik Pandya. In response, Dube dismissed any notion of rivalry, instead emphasizing admiration and respect for Pandya’s experience.
“Hardik is like a brother from whom I tend to learn a lot,” Dube said. “He has way more experience than me, both in the IPL and international cricket.” He further added that comparisons between the two don’t cross his mind. “Comparison, I never thought of, as my only endeavour is to learn as much as I can from his vast experience,” Dube stated.
Dube’s mature response highlighted his humility and team-first mindset, even as he continues to grow in stature as a reliable all-rounder for India. With performances like the one against UAE, where he took 3 wickets and bowled with discipline, Dube is steadily carving a place for himself in India’s T20 setup, while remaining grounded and focused on learning from senior players like Pandya.
India’s win over UAE not only marked a dominant start to their Asia Cup campaign but also showcased the depth in their squad, with players like Dube stepping up and contributing significantly.
India created history in their Asia Cup 2025 opener by recording their fastest win in T20I cricket. Chasing a modest target of 58 set by UAE at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, India completed the chase in just 4.3 overs, finishing with an astonishing 93 balls to spare. The victory showcased India’s dominance and aggressive approach in the shortest format.
The Indian batting lineup displayed clinical execution, combining fearless stroke play with sharp running between the wickets. Every batter contributed to maintaining a relentless pace, leaving the UAE bowlers struggling to make an impact. The win also highlighted India’s depth in batting, as the team efficiently chased even a low-pressure target.
This historic performance surpassed India’s previous record for the largest T20I win in terms of balls remaining, which was achieved on November 5, 2021, against Scotland, when India had 81 balls to spare. By breaking this record, India set a new benchmark for efficiency and dominance in T20I cricket.
India’s explosive start in the Asia Cup sends a clear message to their rivals, demonstrating their ability to chase any target with precision and intent. The team’s combination of aggression, timing, and strategic running makes them a formidable side in the ongoing tournament.
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