Ahead of Ashish Nehra’s farewell game at Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi, rumours were making the rounds of him asking for a farewell match. Nehra has given out a clarification and has rubbished such reports. Meanwhile, it was a picture-perfect farewell for the old warhorse of Indian cricket Ashish Nehra, who got to bowl the last over in India’s maiden victory against New Zealand in T20Is. Nehra has played in 120 ODIs and has picked up 152 wickets. With his career starting in 1999, he has played in matches across both millennia.
He spoke to PTI about the rumours doing rounds that he had asked to play in the 1st T20I against New Zealand.
I have been saying this again and again. Luckily this game happened to be in Delhi. I have not asked for a farewell game or anything. This is perhaps one way that God has rewarded me for all the hard work I have put in over the last eight-nine years.
He added,
I have not spoken to any selector over this issue. When I started playing cricket, I didn’t take any selector’s permission. When I am leaving, I am not leaving with their permission.
“Even today people were wondering if Ashish Nehra will play or not, but if I was in the 15 today, I was obviously going to play. I didn’t come to just look around,” Nehra told reporters.
VIDEO: Ashish Nehra given a memento by the team for his remarkable contribution to Indian cricket #TeamIndiahttps://t.co/3itQO1Ov5u pic.twitter.com/orHnyu3eUB
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 1, 2017
He also spoke about revealing his retirement to the Indian skipper.
When I reached Ranchi (during the ODI series), I told Virat about my plan, and his first reaction was, ‘Are you sure? You can still play IPL. You can play as coach-cum-player.’ I said no. I am retiring completely.
Farewell to the man of the moment – Ashish Nehra #ThankYouAshishNehra pic.twitter.com/onuPCxU4r6
— BCCI (@BCCI) November 1, 2017
Shikhar Dhawan was adjudicated the Man of the Match for his breathtaking 80 off 52 balls in the 1st T20I. The 2nd T20I is set to be played at Rajkot on November 4,
