Nehra decides to hang up his boots

Hyderabad, October 13
Veteran Indian pacer Ashish Nehra today decided to call time on his injury-ravaged career after next month’s opening T20 against New Zealand at his home ground in New Delhi, saying “it is always good to retire when people are asking why rather than why not”. “I have spoken to the team management as well as the chairman of selection committee that the game against New Zealand has come in Delhi. So it can’t get bigger than retiring in front of your home fans where I played my first Ranji Trophy game 20 years ago,” said Nehra.
The 38-year-old seamer made the announcement on the eve of the third and final T20I against Australia here. Nehra confirmed that he won’t be playing IPL as well.
Having made his India debut back in 1999, Nehra has played 17 Tests, 120 ODIs and 26 T20 Internationals. He has picked 44 Test wickets, besides 157 ODI and 34 T20 scalps. He could have played a lot more but for regular injuries. Nehra made his latest India comeback for the ongoing T20 series but did not get a look-in in the first two games. He came into the series hoping to play all matches but soon realised that the younger bowler were the first choice. “When I came into the series, I came prepared to play all games. I spoke to the captain and the coach straightaway,” Nehra said. “My thinking is that I should be in the XI if I am available. If you see, I’ve played in all the T20 games in the past two years.”
Nehra said it was not a decision he made overnight and reached the conclusion after seeing the young pacers do well. “Bhuvi is ready with the way he is bowling. Earlier, Bumrah and I were playing but now Bhuvi is doing well. And there is also no big event lined up in the next 5-6 months,” said Nehra.
He said he could have easily played international cricket for another year and also the next IPL. “It is very important for me to know what people think about me in the dressing room. So now, they all are saying I can easily play for another one to one-and-a-half years. My thinking has always been that it is good to retire when people are asking why than why not. I always wanted to retire on a high.”