Match 2 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2015 was quite an interesting contest. Albie Morkel had single-handedly brought the Delhi side close to an unlikely win and tension in the Chennai camp was palpable. Skipper MS Dhoni admitted to that later. Morkel ensured that the match had come down to six runs off the last ball.
Match 2 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2015 was quite an interesting contest. Albie Morkel had single-handedly brought the Delhi side close to an unlikely win and tension in the Chennai camp was palpable. Skipper MS Dhoni admitted to that later. Morkel ensured that the match had come down to six runs off the last ball.
Ashish Nehra scampered behind the wicket to have a word with his captain. Nehra wasn’t the bowler, Dwayne Bravo was bowling the last delivery. But the lanky left-armer was having a long chat with Dhoni and animatedly gesturing and offering his opinion to the captain on field placements. It made for an unusual scene. Not only because CSK already had four national captains in their side, but there was little one could do with field placements with six runs required off one ball. Not surprisingly, not for the first time, social media residents started trolling the pacer on Facebook and Twitter.
That has been the life story of Nehra. He has always been mocked. For his constant break downs due to injuries, his awkward run up, for conceding too many runs in the death or the unpleasant grin, Nehra has always been mocked. It doesn’t matter that he probably bowled the best spell by an Indian in ODIs. It doesn’t matter that he defended nine runs against Pakistan in that epic clash at Karachi in 2004. It doesn’t matter that he played in two World Cups for India — winning one and finishing runner-up in the other. Ashish Nehra will be mocked.
It does not matter what he has achieved or what he will go on to achieve by the time his career is over. It doesn’t matter as to how many niggles and injuries he has battled to work his way back to the side every single time. Nehra will be mocked. He will be mocked — and there will be no justification for it.
Even in the clash against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Wednesday, you saw that spell coming. He has been performing exceptionally well for Chennai Super Kings since the Champions League T20 last year. You knew CSK rely on his bowling. The tight line with the ball moving just across the right hander with a slightly steep bounce, his bowling was what would leave spectators spell bound and batsmen in trouble. He did that effectively.
This time, however, he silenced them; silenced all those who mocked the fact that he was bought for nearly Rs 2 crore; shut everyone who ever doubted a chance of him making a comeback. Now, the words are being carefully uttered, the humour isn’t insulting any longer. Even in the jokes, there is due regard and respect for his achievement.
Quietly, with his favourite tool — the cricket ball — he has brought to life Mahatma Gandhi’s words – “First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, and then you win.”
(Aayush Puthran is currently a reporter with India.com. He has previously worked as a cricket journalist with CricketCountry and as an Associate Producer with Sony Six. Mercurially jovial, pseudo pompous, perpetually curious and occasionally confused, he is always up for a light-hearted chat over a few cups of filter kaapi!)
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