Former India pace bowler and Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra has opened up on Hardik Pandya’s bowling plans for Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, saying that the new franchise will be happier to have him as a pure batsman for the new season as well.

Hardik Pandya was bought by Gujarat Titans as their captain for Rs 15 crore and he has not played competitive cricket since the T20 World Cup as well. Questions were asked about his bowling as he has not bowled long spells for a long time.

Ashish Nehra, while speaking to India Today, said: “If he bowls, it’s great. But to be very honest, we are more than happy to have Hardik Pandya as a pure batsman. I don’t see any T20 team in the world, not taking just about the IPL, where Hardik doesn’t fit as a batsman. Whatever number he bats, be it 4 or 5 or 6.”

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“Yes, there is always speculation around his bowling. If he can bowl for Gujarat Titans, that will be great. But yes, if he is only batting fit, I will be happy with Hardik Pandya,” he further added.

Shedding light on their strategy to go for Indian stars, Ashish Nehra said that he will back the youngsters to prove their skill in the upcoming season of the IPL.

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“One of 2 holes, you always have to fill. If you see the same Shubman Gill or Devdutt Padikkal or Prithvi Shaw, they have become stars. Devdutt, we (RCB) got for Rs 20 lakh. But see where Devdutt is now. I am hoping for somebody like Abhinav Manohar or Sai Kishore to do the job. I am really hoping and backing somebody like Vijay Shankar, who has been around the team, played for India. I am looking forward to how Vijay Shankar will be doing because I really believe in him,” Ashish Nehra concluded.