IPL 2022: Ashish Nehra all set to take charge of head coach for Ahmedabad franchise
The IPL 2022 season is all set to welcome two new teams in form of Ahmedabad and Lucknow and the teams are busy building their coaching staff around the same. In the latest turn of events, former Indian pacer Ashish Nehra has been appointed as Ahmedabad’s head coach during the upcoming season of IPL.
On the other hand, former England opener Vikram Solanki is all set to become the ‘Director of Cricket’ for the Ahmedabad franchise. Talking of another development around the new franchise, World Cup-winning coach Gary Kirsten is expected to be the mentor of the side. The formal Letter of Intent (LOI) is in process for the same.
“As far as I have heard, they have signed Ashish as their head coach and someone who would be in overall charge of the franchise. 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’t announce it formally as it is a BCCI diktat and they can only make a formal announcement after they get the LOI. The head honchos of the Ahmedabad franchise has already interviewed the trio and short-listed them for the season,” the source added.
Ashish Nehra and Gary Kirsten have worked together in past in IPL
Talking of Nehra’s stint with IPL franchises in a coaching capacity, he was associated with Royal Challengers Bangalore for quite some time where Kirsten was also associated. Both Nehra and Kirsten have had a great time working together while the former was a regular player and the latter was the national coach.
Talking of former pacer, he even shares a great bond with Solanki who has earlier been associated as a coach in IPL. Once there is a final nod from BCCI’s end, the new franchise will also move on to pick some of the assistant coaches.
The new season of IPL is expected to hit the floors by the first week of April 2022 and the mega auction is being expected for 11-12 February.