Nehra: I plan to take one game at a time

Veteran Indian pacer keen to deliver in Twenty20 series

Ready for yet another international comeback, veteran Ashish Nehra is hardly bothered about the doubters and cynics as he revels in the feeling of being a sought-after pacer for India at the age of 38.

Nehra has been recalled to the side for a three-match T20 series (the only format that he plays), having last competed for the country against England, earlier this year. He had suffered an injury during the IPL after the England assignment at home.

“Who isn’t happy if he is playing for India? I have never been bothered by criticism. The Indian dressing room knows what I bring to the table. The skipper knows it, the selectors know it. If I am in the team, definitely, I must be contributing something,” Nehra said in an interview.

Asked about his targets, the genial Nehra replied: “At my age, you don’t set long-term goals. I have been selected to play three games for India. I will take one game at a time. Waise bhi Ashish Nehra accha karega toh bhi news hai, accha nahi karega toh woh aur bhi badi news hain (If I do well, that’s news, if I don’t do well, that’s even bigger news).”

He has recently started using a smartphone and by his own admission, he is light years away from Facebook and Twitter.

Age-related jokes

Does he get perturbed by all the Twitter jokes on his age? Nehra responds by breaking into a laughter. “I don’t even know what people say about me on Twitter. Now people may have a notion that since I am not visible on social media and now that I am in the team, where was I during the period. Well, I was religiously following my training schedule, working on my fitness, doing my bowling routines. Things you actually do to make a comeback,” the answer said it all.