Picture Credit: Twitter
Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra has asserted that the Ahmedabad-based team is more than happy to have captain Hardik Pandya as a pure batsman in the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The Gujarat-based franchise will be led by their local boy Hardik Pandya, one of the 3 players picked by the side in the initial draft along with opening batter Shubman Gill and star spinner Rashid Khan. The Titans boast of a star coaching line-up. Former South African batter Gary Kirsten, the main moving force behind India’s victory in the 2011 World Cup has been roped in as the batting coach as well as the mentor for the side.
WATCH: Ashish Nehra gets cheeky, bids for Arjun Tendulkar only once to tease Mumbai Indians
Questions were asked of Hardik's bowling as the former Mumbai Indians all-rounder hadn’t bowled for MI in IPl 2021 and bowled just 4 overs for India at the T20 World Cup. Having recurring back injuries, Hardik hasn’t been able to bowl consistently but the all-rounder has taken time off to recover from the setbacks. Having missed the Ranji Trophy campaign for Baroda, Hardik is expected to be back for the Indian Premier League (IPL), which is likely to get underway from the last week of March.
"If he bowls, it’s great. But to be very honest, we are more than happy to have Hardik Pandya as a pure batsman. I don’t see any T20 team in the world, not talking just about the IPL, where Hardik doesn’t fit as a batsman. Whatever number he bats, be it 4 or 5 or 6," Nehra told India Today.
Gujarat Titans squad: Hardik Pandya (c), Shubman Gill, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Jason Roy, Lockie Ferguson, Abhinav Sadarangani, Rahul Tewatia, Noor Ahmad, R Sai Kishore, Dominic Drakes, Jayant Yadav, Vijay Shankar, Darshan Nalkande, Yash Dayal, Alzarri Joseph, Pradeep Sangwan, David Miller, Wriddhiman Saha, Matthew Wade, Gurkeerat Singh, Varun Aaron, B Sai Sudarshan.
ALSO READ |IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya getting back in groove, shares video of him smashing bowler in nets