"I never thought"- Ashish Nehra breaks silence on rejecting BCCI's offer to become India head coach

Former fast bowler Ashish Nehra opened up about the rumors of him being approached for the head coach position of the Indian cricket team before Gautam Gambhir. Ashish Nehra said that he never wanted to become the head coach of Team India despite his success with the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL.

Ashish Nehra has been the head coach of the Gujarat Titans for the last three seasons in the IPL. The former Indian fast bowler coached the Ahmedabad-based team to the title in their debut season in 2022. GT also reached the final in the following season but lost to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a nail-biting clash.

The 45-year-old was the first Indian head coach to win the trophy in Indian Premier League history. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) head coach Chandrakanth Pandit became the second Indian head coach to win the IPL title. Reports mentioned Nehra as a potential candidate to replace Rahul Dravid as head coach.

Gautam Gambhir Has Different Ideas - Ashish Nehra

In a conversation with Sports Tak, Ashish Nehra said that he never considered taking up the head coach role for the Indian team. Nehra added that he wants to spend time with his young children and is not in the mood to travel for nine months.

“Meri abhi kabhi us tareh soch nahi gayi hai. My kids are young. GG ke bacche bhi abhi young hai par sabki soch alag alag hoti hai, toh I am very happy where I am. I am not in the mood to travel for nine months (I never thought about it. My children are still young. Gautam Gambhir also has young children, but everyone has different ideas. That’s why I am happy where I am. I am not in the mood to travel for nine months),” Nehra said.

Ashish Nehra played 17 Tests, 120 ODIs, and 27 T20Is for India in his 18-year international career. He was also part of the India team during the 2011 ODI World Cup victory. The former pacer represented the Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Chennai Super Kings, Pune Warriors, and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL.

Team India To Face Sri Lanka In White-ball Tour

Gautam Gambhir was appointed as the new head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team on July 9. Gambhir takes over from Rahul Dravid, who resigned after India’s victory in the T20 World Cup 2024. Gambhir will serve as head coach until the next ODI World Cup in 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

The Indian cricket team will face Sri Lanka in the upcoming white-ball tour, comprising three T20Is and three ODIs. Suryakumar Yadav will lead the team in the T20I format, while Rohit Sharma will captain the 50-over matches. Hardik Pandya, who served as vice-captain in the T20 World Cup, lost the captaincy to Yadav.

Also read: Not India! 'Out of favor' Ajinkya Rahane claims England offers the best conditions for cricketers