Moeen Ali crowns Ashish Nehra as the sharpest cricket mind he knows

Moeen Ali, speaking on the Beard Before Wicket podcast, declared that Ashish Nehra possesses the most sophisticated cricketing brain he has worked with, placing him above well-known figures such as MS Dhoni. Ali referenced their time together at Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2018 and 2019, noting Nehra’s ability to articulate theories for every possible game situation. He explained that Nehra backs his insights with data and past examples, creating a comprehensive understanding of the sport.

After a difficult period as RCB’s bowling coach, Nehra took over as head coach of Gujarat Titans in 2022 and guided the team to an inaugural IPL championship, becoming the first Indian head coach to win the trophy. Since then, Gujarat Titans have missed the playoffs only once in five seasons, often exceeding expectations. Ali concluded that Nehra’s skill in fostering a positive team environment and handling players and fellow coaches underscores his exceptional cricket intellect.