After 12 surgeries and 18 years of international cricket, Ashish Nehra bid farewell on 1 November 2017 at Delhi’s Ferozshah Kotla stadium.
Ashish Nehra might have engaged in various activities post-retirement, such as sharing cricket insights on TV, spending time with family, and relaxing. Nonetheless, he will likely continue visiting the Siri Fort Sports Complex in Delhi daily with his friends. Nehra was part of a hand-picked group of players that helped restore faith in Indian cricket after the turn of the century, including players like Zaheer Khan, Virender Sehwag, and Mohammed Kaif. This group won matches at home and abroad under the guidance of senior players Tendulkar, Kumble, Dravid, and Laxman.
Nehra’s longevity in Indian cricket spans from Azharuddin’s captaincy to Kohli’s milestone of playing 200 One-Day Internationals. Alongside Srinath and Zaheer, Nehra delivered an incredible display of fast bowling in the 2003 World Cup. Nehra’s inclusion in the ODI against England wasn’t confirmed before the match, but he went on to play a crucial role.
Despite enduring 12 surgeries and a cycle of playing-injury-surgery-recovery-rehab-strengthening-training-playing, Ashish Nehra never gave up. He became an expert in preserving his body and preventing injuries for fast bowlers. Nehra maintained his speed despite trolls and injuries and is an injury-prevention encyclopedia.
Ashish Nehra was a bright and effective bowler, adept at swinging the new ball and playing tricks with the old one. He imparts his knowledge about fast bowling to young bowlers and guides them from mid-on when not playing. Nehra is well-versed in the game and could win a case for the bowling community against the privileged class of batsmen due to his understanding of every incident where batters underperformed, making him a valuable asset to the team.
Ashish Nehra is a valuable resource that the BCCI shouldn’t waste. He is respected by his peers and known for his commitment and insightful perspective on cricket, making him an expert in his field. Nehra’s favorite topic is how bowlers are treated poorly by the media, and the author hopes to see him talk about it at Siri Fort after his retirement.
