The Indian cricket team on Wednesday shared a picture on the BCCI Twitter handle with all the players paying tribute to fast bowler Ashish Nehra, who played his last cricket game
The Indian cricket team on Wednesday shared a picture on the BCCI Twitter handle with all the players paying tribute to fast bowler Ashish Nehra, who played his last cricket game
Nehra had bowled his four overs, went wicketless, but had a brilliant moment while fielding when he tried kicking the ball, resulting in it going into his palm drawing a lot of laughs from the Indian players.
Having endured much pain in his 18-year-long injury-littered yet successful career, Ashish Nehra says his body will be at peace as he bid adieu to international career tonight.
"I will miss all this. That's what you train for. One thing which will definitely be at peace will be my body. I said earlier that I can go a couple more years, but there can't be a better time to walk away," Nehra said after his swansong game in international cricket.
Nehra was asked by skipper Virat Kohli to bowl the last over the first T20 match, which India won by 53 runs.
"I must be the one bowler who sent down the last over most number of times for India. But those times were different. There was no pressure today."
Nehra said the game has changed a lot since he started playing.
"I played my first game here in 1997. The rules have changed and so many runs are being scored. But whatever happens, this team is here to stay. The future of Indian cricket is in safe hands for the next six-seven years," he said.
Nehra said there are few moments that define cricketers and such moments also create ther image.
"I have played under many different people, but it has been a memorable journey. I was telling Viru also this; he scored so many runs, but people still call him Multan ka Sultan, so you are remembered for a particular moment," he said.
Nehra stopped playing Test cricket many years back but he has no regrets.
"At times, you pick up wickets off bad balls, but as a cricketer, you in front of a mirror need to realise how well you are playing and what you need to do. There are so many people who asked me if I would have liked to play Test cricket. But you can see the glass as half-full or half-empty.
"I last played Test cricket when I was 24 or 25, but at the end, to have played for 18 years and to be here standing in blue clothing and to have played my final match, I could not have asked for anything more. I have no regrets. I am always happy, retired or otherwise.
Earlier in the day, paying a tribute to the retiring Ashish Nehra, the Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) today named one of the playing ends at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium after the veteran seamer.
Nehra is set to become only the second bowler in international cricket, after England paceman James Anderson, to bowl from his own end.
This will be only for a day, though, it was learnt.
The first Twenty20 International between India and New Zealand is the 38-year-old Nehra's final competitive game.
'Ashish Nehra End' was written, for a day, on the first tier in the centre of the Ambedkar Stadium Stand.
Earlier, at the toss, India skipper Virat Kohli also paid tribute to the seamer whose 18-year-old international career was characterised by many injuries and many comebacks.
"Ashish Nehra is playing. Nineteen years as a fast bowler is a great achievement. One of the smartest guys I've played with, always loves helping youngsters. It's sad to see him go," Kohli, who has been Nehra's state-mate also, said about the Delhi player.
In a video posted by BCCI, India cricketers Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Dinesh Karthik and Ajinkya Rahane spoke about Nehra and his career.
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