Gujarat Titans (GT) head coach Ashish Nehra is very different from coaches of other franchises. Nehra doesn’t sit with a laptop or takes notes as the game goes on. Either he talks to the captain Hardik Pandya about the tactics or is seen sitting in the dugout without a frown on his forehead. Ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 final, Nehra was seen in joyful mood as he took two of his Purple Cap contenders Mohit Sharma and Rashid Khan on a scooty ride at Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium, Ahmedabad.
The video was posted on Twitter on the eve of IPL 2023 final against four-time winners Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Kumble lauds Nehra and Pandya
After a 62-run win over MI, Nehra and skipper Pandya were lauded by former Indian captain and head coach Anil Kumble as he said, “This season, they have just continued from where they left off last year. In that sense, credit to Hardik, credit to Ashish, and the rest of the players as well."
"The players have done really well. The addition of Josh Little, the addition of Noor Ahmed, I think these two have really helped them and the impact player rule as well, with the addition of Sai Sudarshan and Vijay Shankar coming in and doing their respective roles," Kumble added.
Purple cap race among GT bowlers
Mohit and Rashid have been indispensable part of GT’s bowling lineup this season. Mohit has had a meteoric rise from a net bowler to a death overs speciallist. He dazzled in IPL Qualfier 2 against Mumbai Indians (MI) with an economical fifer which is also the best bowling figures by a GT bowler in IPL. With a fifer, he has taken 24 wickets from 13 games at a strike rate of 10.29.
On the other hand, Rashid has continued to haunt batters in the middle overs. The Afghan leg-spinner has taken 27 wickets from 16 games including one four-fer at a strike rate of 14.22. He has been a handy batter down the order as well.
Currently, Mohammed Shami is leading the purple cap race with 28 wickets from 16 games including two four-fers and a strike rate of 13.28. One of the three Titans bowlers are likely to win the Purple Cap.
Shubman in a league of his own
Also, Shubman Gill is leading the Orange Cap race by far with 851 runs to his name already. In the final, he is expected to break a few records if he scores big.
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