IPL 2022 Final, GT vs RR: Hardik Pandya praises Ashish Nehra for getting the best out of him - Enjoyed his company

Hardik Pandya's Gujarat Titans (GT) will lock horns with the Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Sunday in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper Hardik Pandya heaped praise on head coach Ashish Nehra, saying that the former pacer has lent him immense support during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. The Titans, under Pandya, have qualified for the final of the tournament and will face Sanju Samson’s Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Sunday, May 29 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The Titans finished on top of the points table with 10 wins in 14 matches, after which they defeated the Royals by seven wickets in Qualifier 1 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Pandya said that he has thoroughly enjoyed his association with Nehra, also a former Indian cricketer.

“I and my brother (Krunal) were having a chat before we signed. I said, someone who can understand me and know me as a person and kind of get the best out of me would be Ashish Nehra. So for me, playing and spending so much time with him is always fun and I’ve always enjoyed his company no matter what,” Hardik was quoted as saying.

“Our cricketing minds work in a similar fashion. He is someone who spends so much time looking after people (and) that is a fantastic quality. He makes sure he gives ample time to every individual. Ashu Pa (Nehra) and a lot of credit goes to the support staff to make sure that the outside environment is pretty chilled out and all that,” he added.

Hardik has also been impressive in the 2022 edition of the IPL. In 14 matches, the right-hander has scored 453 runs at an average of 45.30 and a strike rate of 132.84 with four half-centuries to show for his efforts. He has also picked up five wickets in nine innings.