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“Very happy”: Coach Ashish Nehra pleased with GT’s quiet yet effective IPL auction

Kaushik Kashyap

Coach Ashish Nehra happy with GT’s auction. [Source - ipl/x]Coach Ashish Nehra happy with GT’s auction. [Source - ipl/x]

Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra expressed satisfaction after what turned out to be a relatively quiet auction for the franchise. Backing their preparation and planning, the Titans avoided unnecessary aggression and focused on fulfilling their key requirements.

Entering the auction with a purse of INR 12.9 crore, Gujarat Titans were notably restrained during the opening half. While other franchises engaged in aggressive bidding, the Titans stayed patient, choosing to act only when their identified targets came within reach.

Nehra expresses satisfaction on GT’s auction picks

The early patience paid off for GT in the latter stages as Gujarat Titans quietly addressed key needs, signing five players. The standout buy was Jason Holder for ₹7 crore, adding pace and lower-order power. They also secured in-form Rajasthan quick Ashok Sharma for ₹90 lakh as per his standout SMAT performances.

Speaking in a video shared on Gujarat Titans’ social media platforms after the auction, Nehra was visibly satisfied and stated that the franchise managed to secure everything in the GT squad they had planned for.

"Overall, we are very happy. We retained 20 players, so it was a small auction. Most importantly, I'm very happy that we got four fast bowlers. So, pretty much, we got what we wanted,” Nehra said in the video after the auction.

Nehra also underlined how Holder strengthens both the pace attack and the team’s batting depth. The Titans also bolstered their squad with Tom Banton (2 crore), adding overseas batting cover, along with two left-arm quicks in Prithvi Raj Yarra (30 lakh) and Luke Wood (75 lakh).

“We always knew that Jason [Holder] was going to go for a little bit of money. He is somebody like Livingstone, who went unsold, and then he went so big. With Jason Holder, we are really happy with his experience and leadership skills. He is a great addition," Nehra added.

The focus on multiple pace options reflects their purpose to increase the number of pacers in their squad, especially with the hot April and May conditions in mind as per Nehra.

Champions in 2022 and finalists in 2023, Gujarat Titans failed to go through the Eliminator match in the playoffs last season. With a refreshed approach and smart reinforcements, they will now hope to mount a strong comeback and push for their second IPL title in 2026.