Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has lavished praise on Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra, drawing a striking comparison between Nehra’s direct, high-intensity involvement in day-to-day preparations and the approach of a football manager. Harbhajan believes Nehra’s constant interaction with players and his strong grasp of cricket have been central to the franchise building a cohesive unit and translating that into success.
Speaking during an appearance on JioHotstar, Harbhajan said Nehra has a rare ability to create comfort wherever he goes, adding that his presence consistently puts people at ease. He also pointed to Nehra’s proactive mindset on match days, stressing that the coach remains actively involved throughout the contest rather than taking a passive role.
Harbhajan likened Nehra to a football coach, saying he “never sits still” and that during the course of a game, he will keep finding players to speak with. In Harbhajan’s view, the biggest value Nehra brings is maintaining togetherness in the group while also delivering tactical clarity when it matters most.
He further underlined Nehra’s understanding of the sport, describing the work done with Gujarat Titans as commendable.
During the same conversation, former India batter Suresh Raina turned his attention to the effort behind the rise of young Gujarat pacers Kartik Tyagi and Ashok Sharma in the IPL. Raina highlighted Tyagi’s comeback, attributing it to the bowler’s fitness and disciplined work ethic after injury-related setbacks.
Raina also shed light on Ashok Sharma’s personal journey, explaining that his elder brother made sacrifices by stepping away from his own cricket goals so Ashok could pursue the sport seriously.
Raina summed up the impact of both fast bowlers by saying they are a positive sign for Indian cricket and that the outlook for India’s pace group appears encouraging.
Retired India fast bowler Umesh Yadav, who has also been associated with the national setup in the past, added further praise for Tyagi’s ability to bounce back. Umesh pointed to technical adjustments in Tyagi’s bowling action and run-up, suggesting that those changes played a key role in helping him manage recurring injury concerns.
Umesh said Tyagi has made several improvements to his game, including shortening his stride, working on his action, and handling his injury issues effectively. He concluded by noting that it’s encouraging to see a young Indian pace bowler respond in such a determined way, and he said Tyagi is now leading KKR’s bowling attack.
