Kolkata: Former Indian fast bowler and current Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra recently delivered a characteristically witty response when asked about his ambitions to become the head coach of the Indian national cricket team. While he did not entirely rule out the possibility in the future, Nehra highlighted the grueling travel schedule as a significant deterrent, joking that taking up the role might just cost him his marriage.
Speaking at the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) annual awards ceremony in Kolkata on September 7, the 46-year-old was incredibly candid about the intense physical and mental demands of international coaching. When questioned about potentially taking over the reins of Team India down the line, Nehra left the audience in splits with his trademark humor.
“It is very difficult to answer this right now. First things first, I would have to check with the ‘High Commission’—that is my wife! Otherwise, I might get a divorce,” Nehra quipped.
Shifting to a more serious tone, the former pacer, who represented India in over 150 international matches, shed light on the stark contrast between coaching an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise and managing a national squad. He pointed out that international coaching assignments require individuals to be on the road for eight to nine months a year, taking a massive toll on personal life.
“It is not easy. Everybody has seen that when it comes to international coaching, not too many people have lasted more than three or four years because of the kind of demands and travelling involved. But again, we’ll see,” he added.
Nehra has enjoyed a highly successful stint as the head coach of the Gujarat Titans since 2022. Under his tactical guidance, the franchise clinched the IPL trophy in their debut season and secured runner-up finishes in subsequent editions. Despite this stellar track record, Nehra maintained that becoming the national coach is not an ambition he is actively pursuing, though he considers the position a massive honor.
The conversation surrounding the Indian head coach role remains relevant given the exhaustive nature of the job. Currently, Gautam Gambhir holds the position, managing the team across all three formats. Similar to his predecessor Rahul Dravid, the extensive travel forces the head coach to take occasional breaks, during which National Cricket Academy (NCA) head VVS Laxman often steps in to manage the squad.
For now, Nehra remains highly content with his focused two-month annual stint in the IPL, keeping the door slightly ajar for any future national duties—provided the “High Commission” approves.