IPL 2022: Gujarat Titans more than happy to have Hardik Pandya as pure batter, says coach Ashish Nehra
India Today
IPL 2022: Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra said the team wants to be realistic about the chances of Hardik Pandya bowling for them in the new season, considering the back injury issues he has been dealing with over the last few months.
Former India fast bowler and Gujarat Titans head coach opened up on Hardik Pandya's bowling plans for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, saying the new franchise will be more than happy to have their captain as a pure batter for the new season.
Ashish Nehra, speaking to India Today, said it will be great to have Hardik Pandya roll his arm over, but that the Titans will be realistic about having the all-rounder bowl.
Hardik, who was drafted by Gujarat Titans as their captain for Rs 15 crore, has not played competitive cricket since the T20 World Cup. Questions were asked of his 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.
Bogged down by 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, 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 taking just about the IPL, where Hardik doesn't fit as a batsman. Whatever number he bats, be it 4 or 5 or 6," Nehra said.
"Yes, there is always speculation around his bowling. If he can bowl for Gujarat Titans, that will be great. But yes, if he is only batting fit, I will be happy with Hardik Pandya," he added.
Gujarat Titans have invested a lot in local India players, buying the likes of left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore, Karnataka batter Abhinav Manohar, off-spinner Jayant Yadav, Yash Dayal, Sai Sudharshan and all-rounder Vijay Shankar.
