IPL 2025: Ashish Nehra Backs Shubman Gill to Lead Gujarat Titans – Says, Sky Is the Limit for Him

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IPL 2025: Gujarat Titans’ Head Coach Ashish Nehra has backed Shubman Gill to lead the franchise into a promising new era, following Hardik Pandya’s departure.

In a revealing episode of Aava De, the JioHotstar exclusive show that brings fans closer to the inner workings of the Gujarat Titans squad, Nehra opened up on coaching challenges, evolving T20 dynamics, and his vision for Gill as captain in the 2025 edition of the TATA IPL.

A Coach’s Mantra: Stability in Chaos

Nehra spoke candidly about his approach to guiding a team through the whirlwind nature of IPL seasons. “For me, I don’t see things only from a coach’s perspective. Even if I put myself in the shoes of a player, in such an environment—the hectic TATA IPL, a long yet fast-paced tournament—the first thing players need is stability,” he said.

He pointed out that with squad reshuffles every few years due to auctions and player transfers, building chemistry remains a real challenge. “After every three years, 40-50% of the squad is new. That means you have to put in extra effort to build the team again… It’s about clarity—on the field and off the field. Just the basic things. I don’t think there’s any rocket science to it… keeping it simple isn’t always that simple.”

Shubman Gill: The New Captain on the Rise

As Gujarat Titans turn a new leaf under the young leadership of Shubman Gill, Nehra’s confidence in the opener is unmistakable. “From all the conversations I’ve had with Shubman Gill over the past year, I believe a person learns best from their own experiences. So, this year, things will only get better and better,” he noted.

“I’m looking at Shubman Gill as a person, as a captain, and as someone who will take this team forward… if a player like Shubman… stays grounded, keeps learning from the game, and continues to grow—which is in his nature—then the sky is the limit for him.”

T20 Evolution: Impact Rule vs Ground Reality

On the growing trend of 200-plus totals and the influence of the Impact Player rule, Nehra remained pragmatic. “You might see scores of 225, 230, 250, or even 260 occasionally, but it’s still a long way off from becoming the norm,” he said, highlighting that pitch conditions and match situations still play a major role.

Citing examples from both domestic and international cricket, he pointed out the inconsistency in scorelines. “Cricket gives you all kinds of results. I still don’t believe scoring 300 is that easy.”

The Bowler’s Battle: More Than Containment

For Nehra, the mental game is just as important as technical execution—especially for bowlers. “For bowlers… you also have to think the other way around—that in four overs, you can take two or three wickets while conceding 20-24 runs,” he said.

He urged bowlers to avoid the trap of defeatist thinking. “Once a bowler falls into a negative mindset, it becomes difficult to recover… International bowlers like Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, and Prasidh Krishna must always believe they are in the battle.”

As Gujarat Titans embark on their 2025 campaign, Nehra’s words offer a blend of realism and optimism—a belief in simplicity, structure, and the leadership potential of a young captain in Shubman Gill.

Watch 'Aava De’ on JioHotstar for more exclusive insights into Gujarat Titans’ camp during TATA IPL 2025.