Didn’t want to come in Bhuvi’s way, says Nehra
Ashish Nehra said his retirement decision was also influenced by the need to step aside and ensure in-form India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar got to play regularly.
The 38-year-old left-armer played as the third pacer in the winoverNewZealandinthefirst T20 at his home ground Ferozeshah Kotla on Wednesday. India won by 53 runs.
Bhuvi was not a regular in India’s T20 team for most of 2016 due to poor form.
“It was during IPL 2017 that I felt Bhuvneshwar Kumar was ready. His form went up and down until this year’s IPL. But after that, I felt this is the way forward, as a bowler I would not like to keep playing at the expense of Bhuvi. If there was a big tournament six months downthelineliketheWorldCup, or if I have a plan to play for the next two years, then I have earned this spot.
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“If somebody plays better than me, he can take it. It is not as if I was getting any favour by getting selected. You can check my record over the last two years. When I was doing well, I said to Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri it is not that I don’t want to play. If you need three fast bowlers, I am here, or if Virat says, ‘no, I want you’ I was available.
“Eventodaypeoplewerewondering if Ashish Nehra will play or not, but if I was in the XI, I was going to play. I didn’t come here to roam around.”
Nehra, restricted to just 17 Tests, 120 ODIs and 27 T20s in an injury-blighted career, said he was still satisfied.
“When you are young, you think youarethekingofthering. But in the last 7-8 years, I could go to my room and tell myself, yes, I did whatever best I could despite so many injuries. There will be regrets and good moments.EvenifyouaskSachin Tendulkar, he might be thinking he could’ve scored another 5000 runs. You’re never satisfied. It’s good to chase your dreams but at the same time, you’ve to be real- istic,” said Nehra.
“There was a time in 2009-10 when Gary Kirsten and MS Dhoni were after me that ‘you play Test cricket’. I said let me playthe2011WorldCupandthen I’ll consider. In 2013, I played 5-6 four day games for Delhi. I realised if I could do that at 34-35, I could’ve done (played for India) too.”
Nehra denied being told by chairman of selectors, MSK Prasad, that they were consideringhimonlytill the NewZealand series.
“I heard this. I don’t know. The chairman (Prasad) hasn’t spoken to me about this.
“I can only tell you about my interaction with the team management. When I reached Ranchi, I told Virat about my plan and his first reaction was, ‘Are you sure? Or you can still play IPL, as coach-cum-player’. I said no, I am retiring completely.”
I did whatever best I could despite so many injuries. There will be regrets and good moments.
ASHISH NEHRA, on his career