Legendary Sunil Gavaskar feels Ashish Nehra will be majorly calling the shots at Gujarat Titans in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League. After former skipper Hardik Pandya rejoined Mumbai Indians in an all-cash trade deal, GT named Shubman Gill as their new captain.
As Gill doesn’t have a lot of leadership experience, Gavaskar believes Nehra will be the one who will hold the reins. Under Nehra’s tutelage, Gujarat Titans won the IPL 2022 title and made it to the final in the previous edition of the tournament.
Meanwhile, Gill scored 890 runs in 17 matches of IPL 2023 at an impressive average of 59.33 and a strike rate of 157.80 and thus played a key role in taking GT to the final of the tournament.
Speaking to Star Sports, Sunil Gavaskar said, “Over and above, Ashish Nehra will be the one who will be holding the reins. With Ashish Nehra holding the reins and guiding Shubman Gill, I won’t be surprised if the Gujarat Titans once again get into the top four.”
“Shubman Gill, young cricketer, it’s difficult to say whether he would be able to have the same impact that Hardik Pandya had. Shubman Gill was in unbelievable form last year himself,” Gavaskar said.
The Little Master reckons a captain can lead with aplomb if he is in good form.
“When a captain is in such good form, he is able to lead also a lot better. With his own place being guaranteed and certain, the rest know that here is a performer and we have got to do what he is asking us to do.”
Gavaskar added that Gill is neither extrovert nor introvert and he will look to lead from the front by getting the best out of his players.
“Shubman Gill is not quite that extrovert as yet but he is not an introvert either. So how Shubman Gill gels with the other younger players and also some of the senior players is going to be the key,” he stated.
IPL 2024 will begin on March 22.
