Ashish Nehra, the former Indian cricketer, has recently clarified the speculation surrounding his potential role as Team India’s head coach. In an interview with Sports Tak, Nehra revealed that he was approached for the coaching position by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). However, he made his priorities clear: he wanted to be with his family and was not willing to travel extensively for nine months.
Ashish Nehra’s thoughts on a long-term coaching role
Nehra emphasized that his young children needed his attention, and he was not in the mood to be away from them for such an extended period. While Gautam Gambhir, the former Indian cricketer, also has young kids, Nehra acknowledged that everyone has different thoughts and priorities.
“I have not thought about that. My kids are young. Yes, GG’s kids are also young, But everybody has different thoughts. I am very happy where I am. I am not in the mood to travel for nine months,” Nehra told Sports Tak in an interview as he cleared the air around the coaching speculation. He was reluctant to take on the role due to his different priorities. This was also the reason for Rahul Dravid to step down as head coach as he wanted to spend time with his family.
Gautam Gambhir was eventually announced as Team India’s head coach, taking over from Rahul Dravid. Amid all the speculation, Gambhir secured the coaching role until the ODI World Cup in 2027.
Ashish Nehra has already enjoyed a successful stint as the head coach of the Gujarat Titans (GT) franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Under his guidance, GT won the IPL title in 2022 and reached the final in 2023. However, the team faced challenges in 2024 due to the absence of key players like Mohammed Shami.
Nehra acknowledged that coaching an IPL team is distinct from coaching a national side. He expressed confidence in Gambhir’s ability to bring about significant changes, given his passion for the game and wealth of experience.
Nehra’s decision reflects his commitment to family and his reluctance to sacrifice precious time with his children for a coaching role that would require extensive travel. His candidness sheds light on the personal considerations that often influence professional choices in the world of cricket.
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