Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra has opened up on working with Hardik Pandya after IPL 2026. Nehra and Pandya formed a great partnership, leading GT to championship in IPL 2022. The head coach and captain ended IPL 2023 as the runners-up after suffering a thrilling loss against Chennai Super Kings.
Nehra, the former Indian fast bowler, said Pandya had complete trust in him. The former pacer is regarded as one of the best T20 coaches in the current era and has played a key role in GT’s success.
Nehra said at CAB Annual awards ceremony in Kolkata via RevSportz, “Hardik is an amazing character. One thing is for sure: he completely trusted me, which was perfect. He is always keen to learn. If something doesn’t go right or doesn’t go well, he will ask questions. He is someone you can have a lot of conversations with.”
Nehra also compared Hardik Pandya with current GT skipper Shubman Gill. The former left-arm seamer said the two players are completely different with Gill being a bit shy whereas Pandya likes to express himself.
“They are very different. You are talking about the North Pole and the South Pole. Both of them were also learning, just like I was. Neither of them had done much captaincy before. But you learn as you move forward. Shubman Gill is now captaining India in two formats, so he is only going to get better. Shubman is a little reserved and a little shy. But that’s okay. Everyone is different. There is no right or wrong. Shubman is someone who does not talk or have as many conversations as Hardik Pandya.”
Nehra admitted that Shubman Gill is still a work in progress as a leader at the top level.
“He is very much to the point. He is also a keen learner. Actually, I would rather say he is a keen observer. He learns from others as well, and he is only going to get better. He is still a work in progress. He is only 26 or 27, and it’s not as if he has been captain for many years. It has only been one or two seasons. You learn things as you go, and you get better.”
Under Gill, GT ended as the runners-up in IPL 2026.
