Former India pacer Ashish Nehra’s CV as an IPL coach is getting better day by day. Since taking over as head coach before the inaugural 2022 season, Nehra has built the Gujarat Titans (GT) into one of the most consistent franchises.

Under his tactical guidance, GT have reached the playoffs in four of their five seasons, including a title win in 2022 and runners-up finish in 2023 and 2026.

Following their successful 2026 campaign, former cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar publicly endorsed Nehra for the position of India's next men's T20I head coach.

Manjrekar noted that Nehra's tactical vision and ability to work seamlessly with varying captains make him a standout choice to transition to international cricket.

“If at all India is looking for a T20 coach, then this is a guy who’s given the results. He has an amazing record. Ashish Nehra is your hardcore street-smart cricketer. If you talk cricket with him, he’s not somebody who will get too emotional, he’ll just be able to look at the problems that his team has,” Manjrekar told Sportstar’s Insight Edge podcast.

“He is a sharp reader of the game, and somebody who doesn’t think too much outside cricket or trying to please somebody and playing these games that you want to play to survive or keep certain people happy, and I think that is where the players see it," he added.

Not the one to mince his words, Manjrekar mentioned that the biggest quality about Nehra is that he actively avoids the spotlight and refuses to take credit for team victories.

“You can see that he doesn’t get affected by success as a coach. He wouldn’t want to take too much credit, he’s just a simple guy doing the hard yards quite easily and seems to love it," Manjrekar said.

Manjrekar stated that Nehra should only be considered for a head coach position, explicitly arguing against hiring him as a bowling coach or consultant.

“I don’t think he should come in as a bowling coach, because if he’s a guy who’s been the head coach and has got his team to do so well under different captains, then if he comes in, he should come in as the head coach," Manjrekar remarked.

Gautam Gambhir currently serves as the head coach of the Indian men's cricket team, with his contract officially running through the 2027 ODI World Cup.

According to several reports, Gambhir is actively seeking an extension from the BCCI. This proposed extension would keep him at the helm until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and potentially the 2028 T20 World Cup in Australia.