MSK Prasad gives no assurance of Ashish Nehra playing his farewell T20I at Delhi

MSK Prasad, the Chief Selector of the Indian team, has made it loud and clear that there is no assurance over Ashish Nehra being picked in the playing eleven for the Delhi T20I. The Indian team is scheduled to host New Zealand for a 3-match T20I series after the conclusion of the ongoing ODI series. The first match of the T20 series will be played at Delhi.

Earlier this month, news had hit the media that the Delhi game will be the farewell game for the veteran cricketer, Ashish Nehra. Recently, the selectors named the squad for the 3-match series and Nehra was included in the squad for only the first game. This, to some extent, gave the subtle hint that the match will be the farewell one for Nehra. However, the chief selector feels that it is not necessary that Nehra will get a chance in the game.

“We can’t say that if he will surely play in the Delhi T20I. Whether he is going to play or not, it is clearly the team management and the selector on call, whoever it is. The think tank involved will be taking a call. There is no assurance from our side that he’s going to play or not. It will be decided on that particular day,” Prasad quoted s per the quotes in DNA India.

Communicated the message to Ashish Nehra

Speaking further on the same note, the chief selector mentioned that the same message has already been communicated to Nehra as well. He mentioned that the team does not see Nehra being a part of the national setup post the New Zealand series. The focus has clearly shifted to the younger generation bowlers. He cited that the youngsters have been performing well consistently.

“We have clearly communicated to the player, i.e Ashish Nehra and to the team management that we are only looking at him till the New Zealand series. If you have seen the pattern with which we have selected the India A players, the same bowlers we have been continuing with for the last one and a half years on all A trips, that means they are very much in line,” mentioned the Chief Selector.

“They have really done well in South Africa, also at home against New Zealand. This message has been clearly communicated and we are very happy that the player also needs to take it in the right spirit that the new generation is coming up,” he added further.