Gujarat Titans, one of the two newcomer franchises this season, will have a lot to prove when they make their IPL 2022 debut. The Titans, under the leadership of captain Hardik Pandya, will have a point to prove in their maiden season of the most famous T20 league in the world when they open their campaign against fellow debutants Lucknow Super Giants on Monday. Having retained Pandya, Shubman Gill and Rashid Khan, the Titans assembled a formidable squad during the two days of IPL auction in February.

The Titans' fast-bowling unit is shaping up to be one of their strongest departments. The Titans have several pace unit options, including Lockie Ferguson, Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, Mohammed Shami, and Varun Aaron. Former India bowler Ashish Nehra, who is coaching the Titans this season, appeared pleased with the stocks at his disposal, but he singled out one of his pacers for special attention.

Here's how earlier today, our Captain @hardikpandya7 joined Head Coach Ashish Nehra to unveil our name to the world! @StarSportsIndia #IndvWI#IPL #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/Sc63dYlx3U

On the show Backstage with Boria, Nehra told Boria Majumdar that the Gujarat team has a mix of everything, which is crucial. Shami, for example... People have offered ten crores, twelve crores, fourteen crores... but here is Shami. Nehra has always believed in him and knows that people might be saying 'Oh, white-ball format, not much impressive numbers'. Numbers in T20 formats areas it is very close. At the end, how you use a player. Here you are talking about a guy who has really bowled well,

Nehra is so delighted with Shami that he has no reservations about comparing him to fellow India pacer Jasprit Bumrah. While Shami has been outstanding for India in Test cricket, he has been nothing short of amazing in limited-overs cricket.

In addition, the former Indian speedster stated that Shami is on par with Jasprit Bumrah when it comes to pace. Even when people see white-ball cricket, be in T20 or ODIs, where Bumrah’s economy rate is 7.5 and Shami can be 8.2, 8.5, but it is his strike rate that amazes Nehra so much. Shami is a wicket-taker. When you have somebody like Shami and his experience, you cannot ask for anything better.

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