If yorkers were easy, I would bowl six, says Nehra
In the first week of the Indian Premier League, the likes of AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, Yuvraj Singh and Hardik Pandya have really challenged the confidence of bowlers in the death overs.
Having been there and done that season after season, Ashish Nehra said coping with it is all about mental toughness. He is against captains walking up and adding to the pressure by asking the bowlers to go for yorkers.
“Everybody’s mindset is different. It is very easy to say, ‘Oh, bowl a yorker!’ because somebody who has never bowled, he doesn’t know what it takes to bowl a yorker. If it’s in my hands to bowl good yorkers, I would bowl six. It is not that easy,” said Nehra.
“My simple thinking about bowling in the death, number one is that mentally you have to be very strong. There are so many times I have seen that the first ball you bowl goes for a six, the second ball also goes for a six and you feel maybe this over is going for 25-26 runs. But if you are mentally strong, even if the first two balls go for sixes you can still bowl a 15-run over. Those 5-10 runs can make a big difference,” said the 37-year-old.
Nehra advised youngsters to avoid letting down the guard. “Sometimes, you bowl three overs for 18 runs and you think today is a good day… and the last over goes for 20 runs. Look at Sandeep Sharma (against RCB on Monday). He gave away just 7-8 runs in his first three overs but his last over went for 20. So your day is not over till the time you finish your four overs.”
Nehra remains in contention for limited overs cricket with the India team. The next big event is Champions Trophy and Nehra doesn’t rule himself out. “It is not necessary that they will be looking for a left-arm seamer. And it is not that I am on trial. Everybody knows if I am fit what I can do. If the team management wants me and if I am fit then definitely I will play,” said Nehra.
“Every team likes variety. We have people like Bhuvneshwar who swing the ball or Jasprit Bumrah, who is really gold with the old ball. Even for Mumbai Indians he is bowling one change. If you do well there is always a scope.”
Nehra admitted at his age it is a challenge to recover after every match. “For me, recovery is as important as training. If I say it doesn’t make a difference, at my age I will be lying. At the age of 38, not only fast bowlers but even for a batsman it becomes difficult. You have to put in extra yards.”
THINKING AHEAD The 38yearold says that If he is fit, he will not rule himself out from selection in Champions Trophy It is very easy to say, ‘Oh, bowl a yorker!’ because somebody who has never bowled, he doesn’t know what it takes to bowl a yorker. It is not that easy. So many times the first two balls go for a six and you feel this over is going for 2526 runs. But if you are mentally strong, you can still bowl a 15run over. For me, recovery is as important as training. If I say it doesn’t make a difference, at my age I will be lying. At the age of 38, even for a batsman it becomes difficult.