“I never tried to convince Hardik Pandya to stay back” – Gujarat Titans coach Ashish Nehra

Ashish Nehra, the head coach of Gujarat Titans, clarified that he never attempted to persuade the franchise’s former IPL-winning captain, Hardik Pandya, to remain with the team when the player expressed a desire to move on. Hardik enjoyed a successful two-year tenure with the Gujarat Titans, leading the IPL newcomers to a championship title in his inaugural season as captain in 2022, followed by a runner-up finish last year.

The 30-year-old’s decision to return to the Mumbai Indians ahead of the current season has generated significant discussion within the cricketing community. Nehra, speaking to the Press Trust of India (PTI), shed light on the matter, emphasizing that he respected Hardik’s choice.

Nehra said “I never tried to convince Hardik Pandya to stay back. I could have stopped him had he been going to some other team. [But] he played for that team for five or six years.

“And the way this game has been going along, people say that it is heading in the direction of soccer or basketball. So we will end up seeing those trades [in cricket too]. Yes, GT will miss Hardik Pandya. Best wishes [to him] from our side.”