IPL 2026: Ashish Nehra deserves more credit for GT’s fearsome pace attack, says Sanjay Bangar

Ambati Rayudu jokingly reacted after Gujarat Titans produced a dominant performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad in a crucial clash that decided the temporary table-toppers in the Indian Premier League. GT completely dismantled SRH with a fiery pace attack led by Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Jason Holder. The quartet consistently hit Test-match lengths and made scoring extremely difficult, especially on the conditions available in Ahmedabad.

Under head coach Ashish Nehra, Gujarat Titans have built their strategy heavily around a strong fast-bowling unit. Their squad composition reflects that approach, with multiple quality seamers capable of maintaining pressure throughout the innings. The disciplined pace attack has become one of GT’s biggest strengths this season and a major reason behind their strong performances.

“I think you have to acknowledge the influence of Ashish Nehra on the bowlers that play under him. There have been multiple bowlers like Siraj, who did play under him at the start of his career in 2017-18. At that time, he wasn’t the Mohammed Siraj that he is today. But he is enjoying this stint with GT, Kagiso Rabada as well. Not to forget his glory years in the 2019 and 2020 seasons [with Delhi Capitals, 25 and 30 wickets respectively], but after that he had a dip in form,” said Sanjay Bangar as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

“Somehow, he [Nehra] gets the best out of them. Mohit [Sharma, in 2023] is another example wherein he did a very very good job under him. Mohammed Shami [also in 2023]. Holder even this season. I think his [Nehra’s] emphasis is on just try and bowl those Test-match lengths. And he always says that. When we used to work together on broadcast as well, he used to emphasise that quite often. So clearly an influence, which Ashish doesn’t get enough credit for, should be acknowledged. Because he does have that skill of getting the best out of his fast bowlers,” he added.

Within GT, there is a clear understanding that the fast bowlers remain the cornerstone of the team’s strategy, even with a world-class spinner like Rashid Khan in the squad. The franchise has built its identity around a disciplined and aggressive pace attack capable of controlling matches in all phases of the game. Much of the tactical planning is shaped behind the scenes by the coaching staff led by Nehra, but the execution on the field depends heavily on captain Shubman Gill.

“He was very, very good [against SRH]. He looks so sorted and settled as a captain to what we have seen in the first season that he led in. He’s now becoming an accomplished leader [in T20s]; slowly but steadily he is really getting up there,” said Rayudu.

“The parameter [to judge a captain] is how he handles spin. That was a point of discussion when he captained India in Test matches in England as well. There have been occasions where he’s shown greater faith in the faster bowlers than the spinners. Once you have someone of the calibre of Rashid Khan, at times he’s been  underbowled. But having a line-up of five fast bowlers and if they are doing well and if they are successful, why do we want to unnecessarily disturb the pattern of play? At times not using the spinner can also be a good strategy,” said Bangar.