The first leg of New Zealand’s tour of India is over and now starts the T20I series, which will see the end of one of the best careers in world cricket, that is of Ashish Nehra. After four years, India will see a player getting a farewell at his home ground.
(Image: BCCI)It was the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, in 2013, who picked Wankhede stadium as his farewell venue to mark the end of his career in front of his family. Now it’s the turn of Ashish Nehra.
He has been issued passes of the corporate box, so as his family and friends can see Nehra bowling those last 24 balls of his career. He has also invited his friends Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar, Ajay Jadeja, Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman and few others to the stadium.
But will they see him running down towards bowling crease for the final time and coming with his pitched up deliveries? Will Nehra sit out in the dugout or will be given his due by junior Virat Kohli? Will Nehra have the final hurrah?
(Image: Google)Had Virat Kohli not become a player like he is today, the photograph above would not have grown popular. Kohli became famous and Nehra played under him was the sole reason behind it, and who would have thought that the chubby boy in the photo will decide Nehra’s future on his final day at the office.
The inclusion of Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar is quite likely. Hardik Pandya, the all-rounder, provides India with the third pace option. With Kohli having a clear approach to playing two of three limited overs specialist spinners, it will be two of Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel who will play the game.
The only place where Nehra can adjust himself is in place of Bhuvneshwar or Bumrah. It’s totally up to Kohli whether to give Nehra his due and it is also a fact that he, in no case, can bench either of two. These two are the mainstays of Indian pace attack, the reason why Nehra was benched for Australia T20I series.
Some reports have even criticised Nehra, stating that he selected him in the squad for T20I series but the Delhi pacer is unfazed by it.
It is really fortunate for him to end his career at his home ground, where he made his Ranji Trophy debut against Haryana in 1997. While none of the Delhi cricketers has got an honour like this, Nehra is all set to get his name registered in golden books and a chance in this game would be the best farewell gift for the outgoing personality.
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