IPL 2022: Gujarat Titans coach Ashish Nehra reveals BIG PLANS for captain Hardik Pandya – The head coach of newly-formed franchise Gujarat Titans, Ashish Nehra has opened up on big plans for skipper Hardik Pandya ahead of their IPL 2022 campaign opener against Lucknow Super Giants. Follow IPL 2022 live updates on InsideSport.IN.
Hardik Pandya has not featured since India’s horrendous campaign in the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup. While there is uncertainty on what version of Pandya we will see at IPL 2022, Nehra has asked the fans not to be too surprised if the new skipper bats at number three.
IPL 2022: Gujarat Titans coach Ashish Nehra reveals BIG PLANS for captain Hardik Pandya, says ‘you might see him bat at number 3’
Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, the former Indian pacer said “He (Hardik) is a middle-order batter, but in IPL, based on the situation or some condition, you might also see him bat at No. 3.”
Besides Hardik’s position in the batting order, which features both youngsters like Shubman Gill and veterans like Matthew Wade, there are also concerns on how the Baroda lad will fit in his new role as the leader of an IPL franchise, since he has never been a captain before.
However, Nehra is not too worried about the fact as he said “Hardik Pandya might not have captained previously, but both of us will learn from each other as we start spending more time together during the season. He is very excited and very positive. He is taking it as a very big responsibility. At the jersey launch he said a very nice thing: “I have been talking to all my players and I’m just telling them, a win is yours and a loss is mine.”
IPL 2022: Gujarat Titans coach Ashish Nehra reveals BIG PLANS for captain Hardik Pandya, says ‘you might see him bat at number 3’
Will Hardik Pandya bowl for Gujarat Titans?
Gujarat Titans will open their IPL 2022 campaign against KL Rahul’s Lucknow Super Giants on March 28. It will be interesting to see whether Pandya rolls his arm or not, as he has been bowling a lot lately.
Before coming to Mumbai, the Titans had a camp at Baroda and according to Nehra, Pandya was bowling well in the training camp. “When I saw him in Baroda, he was good, bowling around 80%. That was a few weeks back and he was feeling really comfortable.” he said.
IPL 2022: Gujarat Titans coach Ashish Nehra reveals BIG PLANS for captain Hardik Pandya, says ‘you might see him bat at number 3’