Ashish NehraKnown for his swing and seam prowess in the early 2000s, Nehra enjoyed a successful career as an Indian fast bowler and even in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, Nehra’s career was marred by several injuries but his journey took a memorable turn when he joined the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL in 2014.

Recently, the Gujarat Titans (GT) head coach fondly recalled his IPL stint with Chennai Super Kings (CSK). It is noteworthy that Nehra played for CSK for only two years. LPI seasons in 2014 and 2015, but couldn’t forget the memories and lessons he gained during his association with the franchise.

CSK is a great franchise and we are lucky to have MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming: Ashish Nehra

CSK, under the firm leadership of former captain Mrs Dhoni and coach Stephen Fleming, became more than just a franchise, according to Nehra. The former Indian player said CSK is a very special franchise in the IPL as it became a learning ground for many young cricketers.

Nehra admitted that the unique combination of magical and long-lasting partnerships has distinguished CSK in the world’s premier T20 league. He also pointed out that Dhoni and Fleming stayed together for a long time at CSK and such long-lasting stability in leadership is rare in the world of franchise cricket.

Ashish Nehra told The Hindu: “It was a big franchise, but they were also lucky that MS Dhoni and Stephen Fleming stayed together for a long time. CSK is a special franchise even for youngsters, who learn a lot. Going forward, I don’t think we will see the same coach and captain for many years in a franchise.”

Meanwhile, despite being younger than Dhoni, Nehra has always admired the legendary batsman and wicketkeeper for his unwavering attitude. Dhoni’s consistent approach, irrespective of the outcome of the matches, has been a source of inspiration for many, including Nehra.

Ashish Nehra: MS Dhoni never changes with match results

The Gujarat Titans (GT) coach said the former Indian captain’s unwavering attitude along with his exceptional leadership have left an indelible mark on him and others who have had the privilege of working alongside him.

Nehra concluded by saying, “For me, the most important thing about MS (Dhoni) is that he has remained the same. Nobody wants to lose, but he has been the same with people, irrespective of the results.”

Well, Dhoni remains a part of the CSK team since the first edition of the IPL, while Nehra has been enjoying his coaching career after retiring from the game. In January 2018, Nehra joined as the bowling coach of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). He worked in this position for RCB till the 2019 season.

In January 2022, Nehra took over the role of head coach of the new franchise Gujarat Titans (GT) in the IPL. Under his leadership, they won the IPL title at the first attempt and then finished as runners-up in the 2023 season. Notably, Nehra is the first Indian head coach to win an IPL title.