Gujarat Titans have quietly built something different in the IPL. While other franchises chase explosive batting and death-overs fireworks, Ashish Nehra’s outfit is playing chess with a cricket ball. The bowling coach has installed a Test-match-like discipline into a T20 format that typically rewards chaos, and the results suggest he’s onto something ekdum sahi.
Sanjay Bangar, the former India batting coach and current analyst, has publicly credited Nehra’s influence on GT’s bowlers as the backbone of their success. “I think you have to acknowledge the influence of Ashish Nehra on the bowlers that play under him,” Bangar said, highlighting how the franchise’s attack operates with a coherence that feels almost old-fashioned in its patience. In T20 cricket, where 150-run totals can feel like defeats, GT’s bowlers are executing plans that belong in five-day cricket. Line, length, and control matter more than the next big wicket.
Shubman Gill’s Role in a Bowling-First Philosophy
Shubman Gill, GT’s captain, has become the perfect custodian of this philosophy. Rather than forcing the game, Gill allows the bowlers to set the tone. His batting reflects the same principle: building pressure, respecting good deliveries, and letting the opposition make mistakes. This alignment between captain and coach creates a rare coherence. Gill doesn’t just bat; he buys into the plan entirely.
The approach feels counterintuitive in modern T20. Teams spend millions on explosive batters who can hit sixes in their sleep. GT invests in discipline, in bowlers who understand that an economy rate of 6.5 in the powerplay might be worth more than a 20-run over later. Nehra, who played international cricket himself and understands the nuances of Test cricket’s demands, has translated that mentality into the shortest format.
What makes this philosophy stick is that it works. GT’s bowling has been consistently tight across seasons, and their ability to defend modest totals or restrict strong batting lineups has become a tournament hallmark. Other franchises are beginning to notice. The influence spreads quietly, through performances rather than press conferences.
Nehra’s Test-match-like plan, executed by bowlers who trust the system and captained by a player who embodies restraint, represents a genuine shift in how IPL cricket can be won. It’s not the loudest approach, but it’s proving to be one of the most effective.
Cricket Masala 