Shubman Gill not even captaining GT; India hopes take a fresh hit from teammate

Former Team India pace bowler Ishant Sharma has opened up about Gujarat Titans (GT) head coach Ashish Nehra and captain Shubman Gill's roles in guiding the team’s pace attack. Sharma stated that the GT head coach prioritizes the bowlers, adding that they can choose their bowling plans and field settings during the matches.

Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna have been crucial to Gujarat Titans’ success in IPL 2025. Siraj has taken 15 wickets, while Krishna has secured 21 wickets. Krishna is the leading wicket taker of the ongoing tournament. Both have benefited from the guidance and strategies provided by Ashish Nehra.

Ishant Sharma outlines Shubman Gill and Ashish Nehra's roles

Ishant Sharma said that Ashish Nehra supports the bowlers. Sharma stated that the bowler has the first say in setting the field and strategies. He emphasized that this trust is vital because if a bowler isn’t confident, it creates doubt, which can be costly in high-pressure formats.

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“When we are bowling, the first say always goes to the bowler. He gets to set the field he wants. If that doesn’t work, Ashu bhai might still suggest, ‘This batsman needs to be bowled this delivery. If he plays that, then maybe try this or that.’"

"But he understands — I’m the one bowling, I have the experience. He just gives ideas, suggestions. The first choice is always the bowler’s, and that’s a great thing," Sharma added.

"Because if the captain (Shubman Gill) or coach (Ashish Nehra) forces a plan that the bowler isn’t comfortable with, doubt sets in. And in this format, if there’s even a little doubt in your mind, game over.”

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Ishant Sharma’s Performances in IPL 2025 Season

Ishant Sharma represented the India national cricket team in 105 Test matches and took 311 wickets. He has also made significant contributions in limited-overs formats. The right-arm pacer picked up 115 wickets in 80 ODIs and 8 wickets in 14 T20Is. His experience added value to the GT bowling attack.

Ishant has featured in 117 IPL games, taking 96 wickets at an average of 35.22 and an economy rate of 8.36. During the 2025 season, he has taken four wickets in seven matches, but his economy rate is high at 11.18. He last played his IPL 2025 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on May 2.

Gujarat Titans at the Top of the IPL 2025 Points Table

Gujarat Titans secured an emphatic 10-wicket win over Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on May 18. They moved to the top of the IPL 2025 points table with 18 points after 12 matches.

GT has two remaining games against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Winning both would guarantee them a spot in Qualifier 1, allowing them to get more chances to reach the final.

The Shubman Gill-led team will face LSG at home in Ahmedabad on May 22. However, Jos Buttler will miss the playoffs as he joins England’s ODI squad against the West Indies. Kusal Mendis has been signed as his replacement for the playoffs. In the earlier encounter, LSG defeated GT by six wickets.

Meanwhile, Shubman Gill has emerged as the frontrunner to captain India in Tests after Rohit Sharma's retirement. As per reports, Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir have already sealed the deal.

Also read: Virat Kohli's friendship has made personal life hell for Jitesh Sharma and his family