It was a different sort of pressure in the final over: Ashish Nehra

After having played for almost two decades of professional cricket, Ashish Nehra finally called it a day to his international career. The Delhi pace bowler retired from all forms of the game after the first T20I against New Zealand of the ongoing bilateral series. Team India registered a thumping win in the match to give a fitting farewell to the veteran superstar.

Ashish Nehra played his farewell game at the venue where things had started for him two decades ago – Feroz Shah Kotla. The script looked tailor-made for Nehra as he bowled the final over over the match. Things could have only been better had he not gone wicketless in the match. Nonetheless, his contributions to Indian cricket remains unmatched.

After the game, he revealed that there was different kind of pressure on him when he bowled the final over in the match. This was not the first instance when he bowled the final over but still, things were different. He also added that skipper Virat Kohli was asking him to bowl earlier but he chose to bowl the final over.

“I must be one bowler who bowled the most number of last overs for India, but it was different sort of pressure and today was much more comfortable. Virat was on my case for the last 2-3 overs and I said I will bowl the last over,” quoted Ashish Nehra.

Skipper Kohli sends warm regards

Meanwhile, Kohli had his words of praise reserved for his Delhi teammate. He rightly remarked that it is a big achievement to have played for almost two decades as a fast bowler.

“To have played 19 years is very hard for a fast bowler. I know how professional he’s been and how hard he’s worked. He deserved this kind of a farewell with the crowd cheering him. He can now spend time with his family, he’s got a beautiful family. We’ll stay in touch but we’ll miss him and I wish him all the best,” Kohli conceded.