Ashish Nehra still haunted by mysterious omission after 2011 World Cup

It was the 2011 World Cup semifinal against Pakistan when Ashish Nehra's spell of 2/33 in his 10 overs proved decisive to take India to yet another final, the second of his career after 2003 in South Africa. Unfortunately, he was to miss out the title clash at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai due to a finger injury.

The 2003 nightmarish final has haunted him for eight years. Along with Zaheer Khan, he was treated like amateurs by Australian top-order comprising Adam Gilchrist, Mathew Hayden and Ricky Ponting.

Despite being confined to the dug out on that most memorable night of April 2, 2011, Nehra celebrated that win in the same way he did after bowling his best spell ever, 6/23 against England in Durban at the 2003 World Cup. He went around celebrating with his injured finger.

Nehra, then 32 years, was sure enough to continue travelling with that winning combination for at least the next couple of years. He came back to his home in Delhi to be with his family, and he remained there for nearly five years.

The only "one liner" that he or anyone heard from selectors or any other BCCI's who's who about his omission from Team India was that "instructions have come from the top to not discuss his (Nehra) name".

At the top then was none other but Tamil Nadu's strongman N Srinivasan. Every time one asked Nehra, he would reply: "I don't know what has happened. Whether it is my face, I don't know. I'm happy that my wife likes my face," and he would laugh it off.

On Wednesday, soon after playing his last competitive game in front of his home crowd at Ferozeshah Kotla here, Nehra failed to again pin point at the reason behind his dropping post 2011.

"I am surprised I wasn't picked for those 4-5 years. My record from 2009 till the 2011 WC shows that I was one of the leading performers. I was injured during the 2011 WC semis, and post that, I was the only bowler who didn't play for India," all that Nehra could say in reply.

He was right. The number of pacers picked by Indian selectors while ignoring Nehra after that 2011 WC triumph was 19. Ashok Dinda. Irfan Pathan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, L Balaji, Mohammed Shami, R Vinay Kumar, Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel, Mohit Sharma, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Parvinder Awana, Stuart Binny, Varun Aaron, Dhawal Kulkarni, Jaydev Unadkat, RP Singh and Abhimanyu Mithun were the only speedsters to be playing during that time for the national team.

"Till now, I don't know what exactly happened and nobody ever told me. I was the highest wicket-taker between 2008 and 2011 by far. In fact, I was among the top three pacers in the world," added the now-retired star.

A reality check of Nehra's claim also proved that between June 2009 and March 2011, Nehra was at the peak of his bowling. He played 48 ODIs and claimed 65 wickets at an average of 32.64 with an economy rate of 5.85. He was only behind Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan during that period who claimed 69 sticks. Interestingly, the two other most successful bowlers for India – Harbhajan Singh (47) and Zaheer (46) were far behind his stats.

All those memories and mysteries are behind him now as he walks into the new phase of his life. "I only know cricket and I will be around cricket only," said Nehra, adding: "I've not planned life after November 1. Give me time to think over but it will be coaching or commentary or anything related to cricket. But surely, I am not going to play any form of cricket, even the IPL."

NEHRA SPEAK

ON HIS FAREWELL GAME

The chairman of selection committee has not spoken to me about this. I can only tell you about my interaction with the team management. When I reached Ranchi, I told Virat about my plan, and his first reaction was, ‘Are you sure? You can still play IPL. You can play as coach-cum-player.’ I said no. I am retiring completely.

ON CONTROVERSY ABOUT HIS FAREWELL GAME

Luckily, this game happened to be in Delhi. I have not asked for a farewell game or anything. This is perhaps one way that god has rewarded me for all the hard work I have put in over the last eight-nine years. “I hope Virat and coach Ravi Shastri are part of the team management because those are the people I spoke to. I have not spoken to any selector over this issue. When I started playing cricket, I didn’t take any selector’s permission. When I am leaving, I am not leaving with their permission.

ON DECISION TO QUIT PLAYING

I’ve always believed and consider myself very fortunate that I have got the opportunity to bow out on my home ground. I have said this before that it’s better to leave when you’re on top. I would have completed 19 years in four months’ time. As a fast bowler, I consider myself lucky that at 38 I’m leaving the Indian dressing room in a blue jersey.