Curious case of Ashish Nehra's absence

Recalled into the Indian team after last playing for the country in the 2011 ICC World Cup semifinal against Pakistan, Ashish Nehra would have been better off playing for Delhi in the super league stage of the Mushtaq Ali Trophy that began in Mumbai on Friday.

The three matches plus the final should Delhi go that far would have been an ideal preparation for the 36-year-old who has otherwise been playing in the IPL regularly but not so much for his state association in domestic cricket.

It is a curious case of Nehra not figuring in the Gautam Gambhir-led Delhi squad for the domestic T20 competition, more so after he has been picked for the Indian team after nearly five years. Ask anyone in the Delhi camp about the left-arm speedster's absence and they beat a retreat.

“We are grooming youngsters and they are doing well,” or “Nehra is vastly experienced and what else has he got to prove in domestic cricket?” or “He played in two T20 matches earlier for Delhi” are what you hear when asked about Nehra's strange absence.

After picking up 22 wickets in 16 matches – fourth highest – for the now-suspended Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2015 at average of 20.40 and an economy rate of 7.24 in IPL 2015, Nehra has played in only three matches till date before he actually boards the flight to Australia and play in the T20 internationals beginning in Adelaide on January 26.

It is no secret that India's limited-overs captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has a lot of faith in Nehra's abilities and this was visible in IPL when the Delhi quick delivered the goods whenever Dhoni gave him the ball.

Nehra played in one Vijay Hazare Trophy (50 overs) for Delhi against Maharashtra at his home ground Ferozeshah Kotla on December 17, two days before his surprise India recall. He bowled at one-change, ending with figures of 9-0-32-1.

After his India selection, Nehra played in two first-round league stage of the Mushtaq Ali Trophy, returned figures of 4-0-32-0 against Railways and 2-0-13-1 against Andhra in Vadodara on January 2 and 3, respectively.

This means, he would have had only 15 overs in all after last year's IPL before he plays the next T20. A few more overs under his belt, more so after Delhi have made the second round of Mushtaq Ali Trophy, would have helped him get back into rhythm.

“One cannot bowl for India from just experience. One definitely needs match practice and nothing like playing in the ongoing Mushtaq Ali Trophy,” said a former India bowler who did not wish to be named.

Nehra's absence from the Delhi squad gives arise to many questions. There are theories floating around that Nehra selects and plays matches for Delhi according to his liking, something that Delhi and Districts Cricket Association is unhappy about. Also, that he prefers to play only T20 in which he has to bowl only four overs and not the longer format.

Nehra had also gone on record soon after last year's memorable IPL show that he will be forgotten in 10 days while expressing his disappointment at not being selected for India since 2011.

While the national selectors have given Nehra a surprise recall, the same 'wise men' do not have the authority to insist the state association to include him in its side and make him play and have a few overs under his belt ahead of an international tour.

Nehra may be training and preparing for the Australia tour in his own way but nothing matches match-practice. If one were to play from memory, Sachin Tendulkar need not have gone through the grind of his routines even in his advanced stage of international career. Yet, he practiced hard like he used to when he was young, sometimes even harder, and played in matches whenever the opportunity arose.

For the record, Nehra-less Delhi bowlers failed to defend a total of 170/5 against Gujarat, going down by eight wickets at the MCA BKC ground on Friday.