Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has opined that India should also opt for a split coaching system that has been helping England. The Men in Blue are trying to move on from a demoralizing loss in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. Harbhajan has opined that former Indian fast bowler, Ashish Nehra could be an ideal candidate as the coach of the Indian T20I side and could take the team forward in the shortest format.
Harbhajan Singh is currently in Abu Dhabi where he is plying his trade in the Abu Dhabi T10 League. He feels that Nehra, who recently retired from T20 cricket, could turn things around for India. Speaking on the sidelines of the event, he said to PTI (via ESPNCricinfo).
ALSO READ: Shikhar Dhawan Asserts He Has No Fear Of Losing Captaincy
During the chat, Harbhajan Singh said, “In T20 format, you can have someone like Ashish Nehra who recently retired from the game. He [Nehra] knows this better than – with all due respect – Rahul. He (Dravid) has vast knowledge, but this is a tricky format. Someone who has played the game more recently is better suited for the coaching job in T20s. I am not saying you removed Rahul from T20. Ashish and Rahul can work together to build this team for the 2024 World Cup.”
Ashish Nehra retired from competitive cricket in 2017 while Dravid hung his boots way back in 2013. Nehra took charge of the Gujarat Titans earlier this year and under his mentorship, the Titans went on to lift the title in their very first season. Harbhajan Singh felt that with split coaching, Dravid can have time off as he did in New Zealand.
“With such an arrangement [split coaching], it is easy for Rahul as well, who can take a break as well, like he did for the New Zealand tour and Ashish can do the job in his absence.”
Harbhajan Singh also opined that the batting approach of the men in blue has to change in T20Is and India cannot play T20Is like ODIs.
ALSO READ: Sri Lanka Cricket Bans Chamika Karunaratne For One Year
The former spinner said, “The approach has to change in the T20 format. If that doesn’t happen, you will be dependent on Hardik [Pandya] or Surya [Suryakumar Yadav] for scoring 50 off 20. If they don’t fire, you will end up with a below-par total. All the top three need to do is increase their strike rate. They have to score at least nine runs per over in the first 10-12 overs. They are quality players. The approach has to change.”
