The Indian Premier League 2022 season is approaching fast, and the two new teams are busy trying to build their coaching staff ahead of the mega auction. In the latest development, India’s former fast bowler Ashish Nehra has been trusted with the head coach position by the Ahmedabad franchise for the upcoming edition.
The CVC Capital-owned Ahmedabad franchise has also roped in the former England batter Vikram Solanki as the director of cricket and will also act as the batting coach.
The former South African cricketer and a World Cup-winning coach Gary Kirsten is expected to join the team as a mentor.
“As far as I have heard, they have signed Ashish as their head coach. Solanki will be the ‘Director of Cricket’ and also expected to double up as batting coach and Kirsten will be in a mentorship role,”
a close source said as quoted by News18.
The Ahmedabad franchise can only make an official announcement after they receive a Letter of Intent, but it is understood that the decision-makers in the franchise have shortlisted the trio.
“The Ahmedabad franchise can’t announce it formally as it is a BCCI diktat and they can only make a formal announcement after they get the LOI,”
the source added.
Previously, Nehra and Kirsten have worked together in the coaching roles, when they were associated with Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2019. The duo worked together with captain Virat Kohli but failed to produce results as RCB finished at the bottom of the table. Solanki was also a part of the RCB coaching staff as an assistant coach.
Kirsten has vast experience of coaching, having had stints with India, South Africa and Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League.
Nehra, Kirsten and Solanki share a good camaraderie and are all set to reunite at the Ahmedabad franchise. Once the franchise receives approval from the BCCI, they can officially announce the coaching staff and their draft picks ahead of the mega auction.
The mega auction is expected to take place on February 11 and 12, while the IPL 2022 should kickstart from the first week of April.
