Nehra shares opinions on Gambhir-Kohli equation and Hardik's captaincy snub

Former India pacer Ashish Nehra has opened up on the rapport that Gambhir and Kohli share. Both of them have been at the centre of a few on-field tussles, with the most recent coming in the Indian Premier League 2023 season as well. Both the cricketing icons wear their passion on their sleeves, and everyone is waiting to see them together as well.

“The things on the outside, people get an impression about it”- Ashish Nehra

“Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir are two very passionate individuals. Whenever they play for a team, they can turn up against the opposition. But, when they are together in a dressing room, they are together, united for the team. You’re talking about Virat Kohli, who has an experience of over 16-17 years, Gautam Gambhir is also experienced. The things on the outside, people get an impression about it. It’s not just Gambhir and Kohli, there are so many players who have had on-field spats in the past, but when they play together for a team, they have done well as a player, as a coach-captain, as a coach and senior player,” said Nehra, as per India Today.

Gautam Gambhir, who takes over the Team India head coach job from Rahul Dravid who is not similar in personality in comparison as well. Despite the drastic shift, Ashish Nehra isn’t expect Kohli and Gambhir to have problems in the team as well.

“Gautam Gambhir is upfront, transparent which is great. He keeps it clear and speaks his mind. That’s very important. Yes, I agree, everybody has their own style (of coaching), to operate with the coach, captain and player. I don’t see any problem with these two and where they are in their careers,” said Nehra.

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“No, I am not surprised” – Ashish Nehra on Hardik Pandya’s snub from T20 captaincy

Nehra also said he was not surprised by the Indian management’s decision not to appoint Hardik Pandya as the new T20I captain as well. Nehra said that he understood the decision of chief selector Ajit Agarkar and newly-appointed coach Gautam Gambhir as they picked Suryakumar Yadav as the new T20I captain.

Hardik Pandya, who led India in T20Is in 2023, was Rohit Sharma’s deputy in the T20 World Cup 2024 campaign in June in the USA and the West Indies. While Hardik was likely to replace Rohit as T20I captain after Rohit retired from the format, the BCCI announced Suryakumar Yadav as the new T20I captain for the upcoming three-match series in Sri Lanka as well.

“No, I am not surprised. When it comes to cricket, these things keep happening. Yes, Hardik Pandya was vice-captain in the World Cup, but at the same time, there is a new coach who has come in. Every coach and every captain have different thoughts. At this time, his (Gambhir’s) ideas are toward that direction,” Nehra told India Today’s sister channel SportsTak.

“I think Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir have made it clear, that’s good. He is playing one format, 50-over also, he is playing less. Hardik Pandya, in white-ball cricket, will remain a very, very important player for Indian cricket. When you have him, you can have 4 fast bowlers, he brings in a different balance to the side and keep in mind, that there’s no impact player in international cricket. Not just Hardik Pandya, but when you have so many matches, there will be changes. Even Rishabh Pant has captained, KL Rahul has captained,” he concluded.