NEHRA BIDS ADIEU

Problem with Indian cricket is we forget the past and only see the present - Nehra

by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on

Nehra capped off a 18-year career by playing his last game at Delhi - his hometown © Getty

On giving up a passion...

It's difficult but every person's different. And I've always believed and I consider myself very fortunate that I have got the opportunity to bow out on my home-ground. I have said this before in press conferences that it's better to go when everyone says you can play for six months or a year more. It's better to leave when you're on top. I would have completed 19 years in four months' time. As a fast bowler, I consider myself lucky that at 38 I'm leaving the Indian dressing-room in a blue jersey. There can be nothing bigger than that for me. It is emotional for I've been doing this job for 20-25 years but there's life beyond this. It's something that everyone knows, even those in the dressing-room right now, that you won't be playing all your life. This day will come eventually for everyone. The better you take it the better for you. Anyone would get emotional at this moment and I am too but I believe that the time to come would be even better.

On his emotions when bowling the last and final over of his career...

It was emotional definitely. Virat wanted me to bowl that last over. Even before that after the 15th or 16th over, as a cricketer you shouldn't say that, but after that point the game was almost over. Miracles do happen but today we could see that wasn't going to happen. So I was preparing myself for the last over. It was very emotional. I still remember 1997 when I bowled my first over from that end only against Haryana. Ajay Sharma was our captain and Raman Lamba was standing at mid-off. Those 20 overs I don't know where they have gone. But I can say there will be regrets but again I see myself as a very lucky guy. Like I said after 19-20 years, I'm retiring in spite of so many injuries. Maybe the stats don't show, especially in Test cricket. I played my last Test in 2004 when I was 24-25. The good thing was that the team management always wanted me to play Test cricket or one-day cricket.

Even till six months they were asking me to play the Champions Trophy. But I just pulled my hammy. For me, those 15 people inside (the dressing-room) are most important. As long as they are saying you can play more and they want me in the team, that's what is important for me. The rest, everybody will have their opinion, either as commentator, the media or people. For me they are the most important. I am very happy that they still value me. Even till today when they came to know in Ranchi that my plan is this, I am going to retire. There was almost like, 90-95 per cent of the people-one or two were new-they said you can easily play. They were surprised that I am retiring even from IPL. Because I'm that sort of a person. It's very difficult for me to wake up and train just to play for IPL. That was maybe my strength that time and time again I was coming back after not playing in between. There were difficult times in between where for six months or nine months in 2007 that I didn't bowl a single ball even in the nets. I had ankle surgery, 10-11 surgeries. It wasn't easy. It was emotional but I'm a very content guy and I always see the positives, not the negatives.

On his most memorable match in his career...

Every match I've played is memorable for me. But performance-wise, the matches that everyone talks about, I tell them they aren't performances, they are your memories. Like the six wickets against England, the last over in Karachi or the wickets in the Asia Cup final. I have bowled many last overs in my career or that performance in Lord's. It's difficult to single out one performance. Often what happens is that you take 3-4-5-6 wickets but you aren't satisfied with your bowling or batting. But at times you take only 2 wickets but when you go back to the room, you feel good about yourself, that you bowled well. I took 6 wickets against England and we won an important match. Similarly I took 6 wickets against Sri Lanka in the Indian Oil Cup but we lost that. So those 6 wickets (don't have any bearing) in my opinion. So when the team loses at times you can be satisfied that ok I did well but ultimately it's a team game. So it's difficult to name one match.

Every captain has his own weaknesses and strengths - Nehra ©Getty

On summary of his career from debut till now...

I'm a simple guy and I always keep things simple. I would say that I am happy where I am today. Again and again I'm saying the same thing. I am not somebody who believes in stats too much. I see that I did, when you are young you think you are the king of the ring, whatever you did when you are 19-20-21-22 that you are right. But I would say the last 7-8 years I could easily go back to my room and talk to myself that I did whatever best I could do, still there were so many injuries. There will be regrets, and there were good moments also. It's not only in my life. Even if you ask Sachin Tendulkar, he might be thinking I could have scored another 5000 runs. You are never satisfied as a human being and it's good that you chase your dreams but at the same time you have to be realistic.

There was a time in 2009 when MS and Gary Kirsten were behind me to play Test matches. But I was waiting. I said let me play 2011 World Cup and after that I'll definitely consider. Then in 2013, I played 5-6 four-day games for Delhi when I wasn't playing for India and then I realized, oh if I could have done that at the age of 34-35, I could certainly have done it. Sometimes you don't know what you can become. Later on, but now, I can pass my experience to the new fast bowlers but one thing again I can say, it's not easy at the age of 39, going to be 39, for a fast bowler after so many injuries still playing for India. So it was very tough for me. I would say after 2007-08, I put a lot of effort so it's difficult to sum up. I have seen lots of ups and downs. Sometimes if you are too successful, you don't know what failure is. So maybe then you can't tell the other person. I am that sort of person, I have seen everything so maybe I can help others.

On not being picked after the 2011 World Cup, when he was at his peak...

See I mean, 2009-10-11, I was playing T20s and ODIs like I said they wanted me to. I did whatever best I could do. If you see stats also, I was doing well. And I am that sort of a guy, I never ask questions to team management or selectors. They didn't pick me, it was entirely their call. But as a cricketer I always feel you keep working hard and pushing yourself. Somebody might not pick you for 1-2-3 years but if you are good your chance will come. Your chance will come but you have to be ready for that. I was ready for it. Now I have been playing last two years, doing well, now getting this kind of farewell so maybe this is God's way of saying you worked hard.

There is a saying that mehnat kabhi kharaab nahi jaati [Hard work never goes unrewarded].You'll get the result in some way or the other. Regret will be that those 3-4 years went bad because I personally felt that I could have delivered for the team. I was playing in the IPL and doing well for whichever franchise I was playing for. Domestic cricket at times it was difficult to motivate myself, I wasn't playing that many four-day games. And one-day or T20, to be very honest, I was playing less games. But whenever I was training I was training to play for India. That's why I said when your chance comes you have to take it with both hands. That's what exactly happened.

On playing his last Test in 2004...

Like I just said, it's not like I didn't get a chance. I was in the squad in 2005 and again in 09-10 the captain and coach asked me. But I keep repeating this to people that unfortunately we see only with relation to playing for India. You can't look at Ishant Sharma and say you aren't playing anymore. He's playing daily for Delhi. At any given time only 15 can be part of the Indian team. This team doesn't have R Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja. Tests, ODIs and T20s put together not more than 20-25 play. So many people play in the Ranji Trophy. I believe that in India more than the sport we are star-loving country. It's unfortunate that I'm saying this but we are not like Australia or South Africa. They are sport-loving countries. We are more star-loving countries.

I would like to see when there's a Ranji Trophy game going on, not a packed stadium like this-that doesn't happen even for Tests-but at least some crowds should come. If you see County games, those things we are lacking. As far as my Test career is concerned, coach and captain kept asking me. There will be regrets that because of my injuries I couldn't play back then or I couldn't take a decision whether I can play or not but it's how you look at things. I have always believed that do your best at whatever you can do. If you can't play Tests, your body can't take it, then try to play one-day cricket. If you can't do that, then play T20s. If you keep doing kuch na kuch [something or the other],results will come.

On the changes that have taken place in Indian cricket in terms of where it stands in a global context from the time you started playing...

Cricket is a kind of sport where it changes after every 8-10 years. I have been saying this for the last 20 years. Every team goes through a transition. I still remember when I started from 2001 to around 2007-08 Australia was a team that you couldn't beat easily. I still remember the 2003 World Cup, I was feeling as a bowler that I am bowling well but Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting always seemed a step ahead of you. Like over the last 2 years bowlers must be feeling our team is two steps ahead. Every team goes through transition. Sri Lanka and West Indies aren't the same as they used to be. West Indies in 1983-84-85, time keeps changing and as far as where we stand goes, the IPL has played a huge role.

It's given the boys confidence and apart from these 15 there are at least 15 more who are also really good who would deliver whenever they you give them a chance. That's the kind of competition we have. There are so many India A tours these days. That wasn't the case earlier some 15-20 years ago. game is evolving. Good things are happening. Changes will keep taking place. It's not like when I started our team wasn't good in 2001-02-03-04. We had the greats playing for us then. Then under Gary Kirsten, the team did well and became No.1 in Tests and won the World Cup final. The only problem with us I believe is we forget the past and only see the present. The team is doing well now, but God willing if the team doesn't do well for 2-3 years, you'll ask the same question that the team isn't doing well now but we used to have some great players in the past.

Ashish Nehra last played a Test match in 2004. ©

On the lack of clarity surrounding his farewell...

I have heard this but I don't know about this. I haven't had any talks with the chairman of selectors on this. Now that you have asked me this question, as far as the team management is concerned, I have already spoken about Virat's reaction when I first spoke to him in Ranchi. His first reaction was, 'Are you sure? You can still play IPL. You can play as a coach-cum-player.' And I told him no, I will retire completely.

Luckily this game came to Delhi. I never asked for a farewell or anything. Like I've repeated, maybe this is God's way of giving me this result for the work I've put in for the last eight to ten years. I hope Virat and Ravi Shastri are the team management! Because I spoke to them. Other than that, I haven't spoken to any selectors. If he (MSK Prasad) has said this, then you should surely ask him.

When I started playing cricket, I didn't ask any selector and start playing. So when I'm leaving too, I'm not asking anyone and leaving.

I just told the captain that I think Bhuvneshwar Kumar is ready and is playing well now. You would have seen for the past two years, Bumrah and I are playing as the two fast bowlers. Then we have two spinners and Hardik is the third fast bowler. And Bhuvi was up and down, but this year after the IPL, I personally felt that this is the way forward. I will not like it as a bowler that I play and Bhuvi sits out.

If there was a World Cup in the next few months, or my plan was to play for one or two more years, then I have earned this spot. If someone is doing better than me, then he can have it. It's not like anyone was doing me a favour (by picking me). You can check my record of the last two years, for those who are fond of stats. But, I told this to Virat and Ravi Shastri in spite of doing well. I told this on my own. It's not that I didn't want to play for 11 months in a year, as some people have said. If three fast bowlers are needed, I'm here. And if Virat told me, 'No, we want you to play', then I was available. In the last game (versus Australia) it rained in Hyderabad, but I was playing. So it was my own decision, and it was for the betterment of Indian cricket and the team.

Today also people were wondering 'Will Ashish Nehra play or not'. But if I'm coming here, then I was going to play isn't it? I hadn't come here for sight-seeing!

On the captain he enjoyed playing under the most...

So many people have asked me this question. I'm going to repeat the same thing because the same questions have been coming for the last week or two weeks. I'm somebody who has never liked comparisons. Everyone has weaknesses and strengths. I played under Dada, under MS, I'm playing under Virat. Obviously Virat has a long career to go still. There were so many other captains. Viru didn't captain for long but he was a very positive guy. MS was someone who was really, really good. He was very shrewd and knew how to get the best out of his resources. Dada [Sourav Ganguly] was someone who really motivated us. We were young then too, me, Zak, Viru, Yuvi, Bhajji... so everyone is different it's difficult to compare.

I'm somebody who, I won't say I'm enjoying when I'm doing well, but whenever I feel good body wise, I will enjoy whoever the captain is.

Thoughts on giving an award to Kohli 15 years back and his future role...

I haven't decided yet, but I'm definitely someone who knows only cricket. Aur kuch aata nahin hai! [I don't know anything else]. So whatever opportunity comes, coaching or commentary or who knows, I haven't decided anything. I will sit, relax and decide what I want to do. And whatever little bit I know about the game, if I'm doing commentary I would like to share. If I'm coaching, whatever I can help the boys I will try to do it.

On the first question, I'm not on social media so I don't know about all these things much. But that picture has become more popular because of where Virat Kohli is today. Same picture, let's say I would have clicked with Chahal. Or let's say Siraj, who has just started playing. You probably wouldn't have been asking me about it. But if that same picture is with a Mahendra Singh Dhoni or a Virat, because they have achieved so much... it's a long journey. That picture must have been in 2003, before or after the World Cup. It's been a great journey from then to here, but it's become more popular because of Virat. Mujhe to lagta nahin hai meri wajah se hua hai! [I don't think it happened due to me].

On rumors of his retirement and him not coming back...

Whether I thought or not, but several big people thought that Ashish Nehra is gone and won't come back! My attitude was always, 'Never say never'. I feel if you keep pushing yourself, you have to be ready when your turn comes. Four years I was out of the team, like I said I never asked anyone the reason, I did what was in my hand. If you see the 2009-11 period, I was the highest wicket-taker in ODIs and T20Is not just for India but even in the world in the top three. After the 2011 World Cup I had a finger injury, we won the World Cup - and after that I didn't play for four years. Again, that is up to the team management and selectors. They were trying whatever they were trying. But I knew only one thing: wake up in the morning, go train, play. There were times even at the Sonnet club with my coach Tarak Sinha, that in the summer time nobody will be there. Maybe only 20 kids. But I would be bowling to a single stump. Because mereko cricket khelne ka shauk tha [I enjoy playing cricket]. If you like the work you are doing, then you will surely get the result and you will enjoy it too.

If you are doing journalism, and you think, 'Oh god, where have I got stuck. I don't feel like doing this' - then you will never enjoy it.

I love cricket. And I always wanted to retire on a high. I've said this earlier also, it's always good to retire when people are saying 'Why' rather than 'Why not'. But I loved cricket, and still do. So I did whatever I knew how to do. And I believe that if you give time to the game, you will get results sooner or later, in some way or the other. If you devote three-four hours to the game every day, whether training or practice... but I got this realisation a little late. But better late than never. I can say after 2008 that whatever I could do best I have done. So I have no regrets there. You should regret only those things where you are at fault. I was playing. Not for India, but I was playing in the IPL. And whatever little bit for Delhi in one-dayers or T20s. So that way there is no regret. Nahin hua to nahin hua [If it's not happening, then it's not]. And it's not how you start, it's always how you finish. And I feel I cannot get better than this.

On the difference in fast bowling from his debut days to now...

The first thing I will definitely say, if you are the top of your game and bowling well, you can still deliver. In T20s or one-dayers you can still see people like Jasprit Bumrah, or Rabada or Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Or Jimmy Anderson in Tests. And batting also, you will not always have it easy. There are big series coming up now, it will be difficult for us to win. But the way the boys are playing in the last couple of years, definitely we'll do well there also.

Rules have changed. Now there are two new balls in ODIs, and in the subcontinent it gets difficult. If you make it one ball, the 350 scores may come down to 310. If you allow five fielders outside the circle, it will become 280. If you play with the SG Test cricket ball, that 350 will become 225. Because on this sort of pitch, that ball will reverse from the fourth over!

You have to understand one thing in cricket, home and away is a big thing, first. And second, it's a team game and rules keep changing. It's not like ICC have kept the rules same over the last 20 years. I'm saying this again, I don't believe in comparisons or stats too much. Because if somebody's average is 35 but he used to play 30 years back... then if you scored 200 it was a winning score. Now even 325-350 is not a winning score. I know you people like comparisons and stats. Today if you see people like Virat Kohli or Joe Root or Kane Williamson, everyone is playing with an average of 50. They are all great players.

But one day I was watching a game India was playing in Kolkata and they were showing the highest averages ever for a minimum of 1,000 runs or something. In the top 10 there was no Tendulkar, no Lara, no Ponting, no Kallis. I'm not ready to accept that they were not that great. Stats... all those who are playing understand this. Like I said, if you play the next 25 ODIs with the red SG ball, it's not that Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma or MS Dhoni won't score runs. They all will, but it won't be 350. It will be 260 to 280. Cricket is a game of conditions. In North India when there is a Ranji Trophy match on a wet pitch, you can't hit a cover drive the way you hit against the white ball.

Earlier they used to say, bowlers have maintained the ball well and were getting a lot of reverse swing. Earlier there weren't 20-30 cameras. Now if the ball is wet and you try to clean it with sand, the umpires will pull you up. That's why I'm not a big fan of stats or comparisons. Every era has its great players.

On his friendship with Sehwag...

I have a very old relationship with him. Today also, he spoke to me before the match. The time when he used to pick me up on a scooter were good times. While going to the ground, for Under-19 trials to Ranji Trophy, he used to drive and I would sleep behind. While coming back, it was my turn (to drive). Some great memories, and it's not just for Viru and me, but for many others. Now times are different. Whether it's cricket or life, times change every 10-15 years.

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