Former India pacer Ashish Nehra who retired from international cricket just three months ago is all set to mentor the Royal Challengers Bangalore bowlers in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League.
He got appointed as the bowling coach of the franchise. The 11th edition of the tournament is just 25 days away from commencing, and the fans are gearing up for the extravaganza.
Nehra is very excited to work with the Royal Challengers Bangalore as a bowling coach. The pacer spoke on various aspects regarding the upcoming edition of the tournament. Nehra was present during a promotional match organised by the RCB. Nehra further added it is a new beginning and he hopes RCB will pass the final hurdle this time around.
“It is a new beginning for me. Everybody knows that how big a franchisee RCB has been. They have reached final three times, but couldn’t cross the last hurdle. So hoping for a good season,” Nehra said. He further added the team management is way more important than teaching something to the bowlers.
“It will be more of a man-management thing for me, as I don’t want to use the word coaching for my job at this stage. I see coaching from a player’s point of view. I was playing until three-four months ago. So whatever I wanted from a coach, I will try to give it to my players,” he was quoted as saying by Times of India.
“I can’t and don’t want to change anybody’s game in the two-three months. I just want to change their frame of mind if there is a need for it. All my bowlers know how to bowl, but my job would be to tell them what to bowl when” he further added.
Although T20 cricket is more inclined to the batsmen, Nehra said,
“It is the perspective of the people which is different towards the bowlers. As a batter even if you don’t score for five-six innings, and then you score a 120-ball 40 or a 130-ball 50, it is more highlighted.
But it is another way around for a bowler. You might pick three wickets in four overs giving away 25 runs; it may go unnoticed. But if you give 60 runs in four overs, it will get highlighted,” said Nehra.
“But in terms of cricketing contribution, I feel bowlers have an equal role to play, especially at a venue like Bangalore or Mumbai, where everybody knows wicket is going to be a belter. Be it Tests, ODIs or T20s; bowlers have to do well to win the match. You can’t win a Test match by scoring a 1,000 runs. You will have to take 20 wickets to win it,” he added.
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