I am surprised I wasn't picked in the last 4-5 years: Ashish Nehra

Ashish Nehra had made his comeback into the Indian team in the Twenty20 series against Australia in Australia, which was his first recall to the national side nearly after 5 years.

In his comeback series Nehra picked wickets up front and with some good death bowling along with the youngster, Jasprit Bumrah. He continued the bowling form in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh which India won and in the World T20 2016 in India. He had picked up 18 wickets from 15 T20 internationals.

Ashish Nehra was picked up by the IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), who are the current table-toppers, and he stood up to the expectations, picking up nine wickets from eight matches.

It is always a mystery why Nehra was never considered after the 2011 World Cup. He had been successful in the 2009-2011 season and highly successful in the World Cup. Before his recall in this January, he played last for India in the semi-final against Pakistan at Mohali. He was really impressive in the match, bowling an economical spell early and later come into the attack and picked up the wickets of Wahab Riaz and Umar Gul by trapping him leg before wicket. He ended up with figures of 2 for 33 in his quota of 10 overs.

“I am surprised I wasn’t picked in the last 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,” Nehra told the Times of India.

“Even Piyush Chawla and Munaf Patel got a game for the country. Why I wasn’t picked for India during those years is something only the BCCI and selectors can say,” Nehra said.

However, Nehra who made a great comeback into the national side said that he does not want to prove anything to anyone and remains confident of success despite his age. “I am not there to silence anybody. When I was picked again, people may have had doubts about me playing at this age, but I had confidence in myself. If you back yourself, no one can stop you,” he said.

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