Ahead of the 2025 IPL season, the Gujarat Titans will witness major changes. Both Ashish Nehra and Vikram Solanki are expected to leave the team. Nehra has been the head coach ever since the Titans joined the IPL in 2022. In his head coaching, the team enjoyed a spectacular debut season when they clinched the trophy. This was big for a new franchise and showed Nehra’s coaching worked wonders.
The following year, they again made it to the final. They played pretty well throughout the season but lost to Chennai Super Kings in the final. Despite losing this game, through their consistent performance, the Titans proved that they were a force to be reckoned with. It was Nehra’s astute leadership that helped the cause of the Titans immensely. But the most recent season turned out to be disappointing. Eventually, the Titans ended up eighth on the points table, thereby missing a playoff berth. This was a massive fall from grace for the team.
Gujarat Titans Performance In IPL 2024
There were several reasons behind the team’s poor performance this season. One of the main reasons was the absence of players in the lineup. An important all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, was sold to the Mumbai Indians. His exit created a large vacuum in the team. Pandya was equally important with both bat and ball, so his loss was extremely felt. Besides, another key player, Mohammad Shami, was injured and therefore could not contribute to the team. The double whammy of losing two critical players was too much to fill up, and the team badly missed them.
In a damage control move, the Titans are mulling over changes, even among the coaching staff. The impending exit of Nehra and Solanki is part of that bigger plan. Probably, refreshing the coaching setup is what the management looks for to ensure that the issues faced during the recent season get solved. If not all, one thing that can bring some new ideas and strategies is changing their coaching staff. The Titans seek to move on and improve their performance in the upcoming season with better possibilities.
With preparations underway for the changes, the Gujarat Titans are said to have roped in former cricketer Yuvraj Singh as part of their coaching staff. Yuvraj Singh is an accomplished player who has made several valuable contributions to Indian cricket. The appointment of Yuvraj Singh itself is an interesting move. His deep understanding of cricket and experience as a player can bring new perspectives to the team. Even though he has never coached, Yuvraj does bring knowledge of the game.
The bundles of experience and knowledge that Yuvraj possesses will help the captain immensely. This very bond can do the trick in Shubman Gill’s leadership, along with other things in the team. Even though Yuvraj does not have any coaching experience, the cricketing background and rapport between him and Gill make him a strong contender for the role. The Titans are looking at this option, hoping that it might help them improve their performance.
Changes Beyond the Head Coach
Changes that are expected with Nehra and Solanki form part of a larger change that’s happening in the Gujarat Titans’ coaching setup. assistant coach for three seasons, Gary Kirsten, has already moved out to take up the head coach’s mantle for the Pakistan cricket team. It was not an insignificant exit in meaning for the Titans since he was part of the core coaching staff, so his exit marked the end of a very big chapter.
In addition to Kirsten’s departure, other members of the support staff could leave the team in case Nehra and Solanki take their leave. Added to the list would be Aashish Kapoor, Naeem Amin, Narender Negi, and Mithun Manhas, all of whom could go with them. Their potential departure could suggest that the Titans are planning a comprehensive revamp of their coaching setup.
Fresh ideas and strategies are what the Gujarat Titans look toward—strategies that help improve performance. The management is of the view that if there can be a change in the coaching staff, then new approaches might be built up to get better results. The focus is on finding new ways to strengthen the team and overcome the challenges they faced last season. These changes for the team can probably bring back that high degree of success again this year. With a new coaching setup and probably some new strategies, the Titans are going into the next season with renewed vigor and focus. It only seeks to turn their recent disappointments into opportunities for growth and success in the future.
