It will be more of man-management than coaching, says RCB bowling coach Ashish Nehra

Ashish Nehra has played for as many as five IPL teams with RCB being his sixth association

What's the story?

Former India pacer Ashish Nehra, who is now a part of the Royal Challengers Bangalore dressing room in the role of a bowling coach for the IPL, has said that he does not see himself as a frontline coach, instead harping on the fact that his role would be about “man-management”.

"It will be more of a man-management thing for me, as I don't want to use the word coaching for my job at this stage. I see coaching from a player's point of view,” Nehra told the Times Of India.

In case you didn't know...

The left-arm pacer retired from international cricket last November after playing in a T20 against New Zealand at his home ground in Delhi. In total, he represented India in 17 Tests, 120 ODIs and 27 T20 internationals from 1999 until 2017.

That period also included a World Cup triumph in 2011 to go with stints at as many as five different IPL teams: Delhi Daredevils, Mumbai Indians, the now-defunct Pune Warriors, Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

After his retirement, it was reported that Nehra was appointed the mentor of the Royal Challengers Bangalore, but it has since been confirmed that he will serve as their bowling coach in the upcoming IPL.

The heart of the matter

However, the 38-year-old refused to consider himself as a coach, rather willing to think of himself as looking after the players. “I was playing till three-four months ago, so whatever I wanted from a coach, I will try to give it to my players.

"I can't and don't want to change anybody's game in the two-three months. I just want to change their frame of mind if there is a need for it. All my bowlers know how to bowl, but my job would be to tell them what to bowl when,” the lanky Nehra said.

What's next?

The 11th season of the IPL commences on April 7 with defending champions the Mumbai Indians taking on the Chennai Super Kings at home, with the final also scheduled to take place at the Wankhede Stadium on May 27. Nehra's newest IPL team will launch their campaign against the Kolkata Knight Riders on April 8 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Author's Take

With the inception of one T20 league after another, these tournaments of the shortest format provide the most ideal of opportunities for recently retired cricketers or those seeking to take up coaching in the near future to enter into the mentoring or coaching scheme of things early after quitting the game.

Also, with even T20 sides having specialist coaches, the IPL and other such events have opened the door for a string of coaching assignments for experienced former cricketers.