Statistical analysis of Ashish Nehra's impressive comeback

The most questionable part of the critics and fans in the recently announced Indian squad for the T20I series against Australia was the selectors bringing back the veteran pacer Ashish Nehra. While few players reportedly failed in maintaining the required limits of fitness, Nehra cracking the most talked Yo-Yo Fitness Test has turned out to be a surprising element. One could question the need for calling back the 38-year-old given the Indian death bowling is in the hands of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah which can be regarded as the greatest ever in the Indian history.

However, the selectors and team management have shown faith in the experience of Nehra, who offers variety as a left-arm pacer. Jaydev Unadkat after a successful IPL and the highly rated Aniket Chowdhary couldn’t make a cut ahead of the experienced campaigner. Talking about Nehra’s performances in the recent past, selectors can’t be questioned on that basis as the speedster had regained his wicket-taking ability in the last 3-4 years in the shortest format of the game.

In 2014 and 2015, Nehra bagged a total of 40 wickets in 25 Twenty20 matches and that earned him his maiden call-up to the Indian team after the 2011 World Cup. Since 2016, Nehra has featured in 18 T20Is and picked up 21 wickets and has made a mark by producing breakthroughs in the powerplay. Till 2011, Nehra bagged 13 wickets in eight games with an economy of 8.84 which came down to 7.22 since January 2016.

Ashish Nehra with the ball in T20I cricket:

Overall in the T20 format, Nehra has been a regular wicket-taker since 2014 taking 84 wickets in just 61 matches at a brilliant strike rate of 15.73 and an impressive average of 20.25 which was 19.23 and 24.65 respectively up to 2013 in this format where he had picked only 78 wickets despite playing 70 matches.

Ashish Nehra with the ball in Twenty20 cricket:

While Nehra’s recent numbers speak volumes and prove how he deserves to be a part of the team, the selectors should also make a note of his age and the future prospects. Their focus should also be on building the squad for the next World T20 which is in three years’ time.

(Stats as on October 3, 2017)