I was surprised when they weren't picking me: Ashish Nehra

A whole new breath of fresh air was infused into Ashish Nehra’s career after he was recalled to the Indian squad for the upcoming T20 series in Australia.

Nehra has urged that it is important to “look after and nurture” fast bowlers so as to ensure that they can have an extended stint at the international level.

Speaking to ESPNCricinfo Nehra said, “For ODIs and T20s, you have to choose your 5-6 bowlers, that these are the guys we are going to back. I know it is very difficult sometimes for the captain and selectors; sometimes when you lose series you are picking different bowlers and nobody settles in. Injuries are a major part of fast bowling as well, like we’ve seen with (Mohammed) Shami, Ishant (Sharma) and Mohit (Sharma). Even if you see Australia right now, Nathan Coulter-Nile, (Mitchell) Starc and (Pat) Cummins are all injured, so Australia is almost playing with their second string of bowlers.”

Nehra also emphasized on the fact that India has fast bowling talent and the selectors must keep an eye in the young budding bowlers.

“If somebody says India doesn’t have talent, I won’t agree. But the only thing is you have to look after them well, nurture and support them. When Test cricket is not on and you have 3-4 bowlers who only play T20s and ODIs, you have to keep an eye on them. How to look after fast bowlers is very important, if you want them to sustain for 10-12 years and play for India. When they are young, 90% of fast bowlers don’t know what to do. When they mature, sometimes it’s too late. If I go to Australia and play the World T20 and deliver, people will say ‘Oh he should have been there earlier. If I don’t people will say it was right that they didn’t pick him!’ That’s how it works in India,” the 36-year old said.

It was in the semifinal of the victorious 2011 World Cup against Pakistan that Nehra last represented India. However, he had to miss the final due to a finger injury. Following which he was out of contention for nearly five years. However, international wilderness did not break the veterans motivation as he kept performing outstandingly in the IPL. The last season, he finished fourth on the wicket-takers list with 22 scalps from 16 games.

The disappointment of being ignored would always be there for a player who has done everything right to press for his long due comeback and he admits that. Nehra also said that he has always worked hard to play international cricket. And, now that the opportunity has come his way, he would surely try to make the most of it to stretch his career.

“I was surprised when they weren’t picking me for the last 2-3 years to be honest,” he said. “Better late than never, hopefully I can do well, I am just working hard. If I go to Australia and play the World T20 and deliver, people will say ‘Oh he should have been there earlier. If I don’t people will say it was right that they didn’t pick him!’ That’s how it works in India. Whatever is gone is gone, I am just looking forward and hopefully everything will go my way. I have always worked hard to play international cricket. Once you have been there, you know how much pleasure you get playing for India. There were times when it was very difficult for me to motivate myself, despite not being picked, to go to the gym or ground and train. It was difficult. Age is just a number for me. If you can keep yourself fit, you can keep playing.”

Most of the players and coaches stress on the need for match practice. But, Nehra isn’t worried about the lack of match practice leading into the series in Australia. He hasn’t played much competitive cricket since his successful 2015 IPL season which ended in May.

“Some people really want match practice, I am among those who wants a lot of practice,” he explained. “Most of the time I like to practice in open nets, so I get the same kind of feeling. If I am bowling well in the nets or to a single wicket, I get that confidence, that’s how I have been playing for the last 7-8 years, this is not the first time I will be doing it.

“People say T20 is a young man’s game, all those theories I don’t believe in. You have to be on top of your game, especially as a bowler and the kind of job I do, bowling 2-3 of the first six overs and one or two in the last four. In the sub-continent or outside also these days, wickets will be flat. You have to physically fit and mentally strong, especially as a bowler. It’s a fast game but I have been playing IPL, and that’s a big boost. The intensity is good as international cricket.”

Ashish Nehra has also stated his eagerness to mentor India’s emerging crop of fast bowlers on his return to the dressing room after this long hiatus.

“This is a short tour, but whatever little I can help the youngsters, I will,” he says. “If I can play till the World T20, I will definitely look at that job, I have done it for CSK and I really enjoyed it. Most of the bowlers have different strengths, but you can’t buy experience. I made my debut 17 years ago. In the sub-continent, somebody like me, who has had so many injuries, undergone 10-12 surgeries, still standing there and playing the fastest format of all, it has taught me something which I can pass on to the youngsters and give my experience.”

The ODI series between India and Australia has already commenced while the T20I series, in which Nehra will feature is set to begin from 26th this month.