Nehra to retire from all forms of cricket
New Delhi, India - Ashish Nehra will end his 18-year international career with the New Zealand T20I at his home ground, Feroz Shah Kotla, on November 1.
The 38 year old Nehra was one of the few remaining active internationals among those who started their career in the 1990s.
Through his career, Nehra had to fight injuries. It was a marvel he played as long as he did after 12 surgeries and many other small setbacks.
He often jokes that the injuries aren't on his body; his body is stuck somewhere in the injuries.
Nehra's many comebacks and his awareness of his body is spoken of as an example by his contemporaries.
Despite all the injuries, he made comebacks to be a World Cup winner in 2011 and then to lead India's attack all the way to the semifinal of the World T20 in 2016.
Nehra made his international debut in a Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo in December 1999, and for a few years was a consistent presence in India's limited-overs line-ups. He was a critical part of India's run to the final of the 2003 World Cup. His six for 23 against England in that event - even as he fought illness and vomited on the sidelines - remain the best figures by an Indian in World Cups.
Injuries soon struck. Between September 2005 and June 2009, for instance, Nehra did not play a single international match for India, but gradually made a comeback in the lead-up to the 2011 World Cup.
Even in that tournament, he broke his finger while going for the catch of Pakistan's last hope, Misbah-ul-Haq, in the semifinal. He missed the final.
When fit, though, Nehra was considered one of the smartest quicks to have played for India. Alongside Zaheer Khan, Nehra was a mentor for many a young quick.
Perhaps looking at the fast-bowling strength India has now - Nehra didn't find a place in the XI in the first two matches against Australia - Nehra decided it was time to give a well-deserved break to his tormented body.