Ashish Nehra strongly believes that the age bracket of 30-35 is not something which should matter as, for the first time in the history of Indian Premier League (IPL), MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings won’t compete in the playoffs.
CSK have lost eight matches from 13 games and are officially out of the qualification race as they are placed last (8th spot) on the IPL 2020 points table.
Ashish Nehra: Cricketers Who Are Aged 30-35 Are Still Capable Of Doing Well In Coming IPLs
CSK’s ouster from the tournament has caused a huge commotion on social media. The players are getting highly criticized for being rusty on the field and struggling with their fitness including skipper MS Dhoni who faced the hit for his poor performance both as captain and batsman.
Their failed attempt of discovering the ‘spark in youngsters’ has now fueled the idea of getting the squad revamped in 2021. A majority of cricketers like Shane Watson, Kedar Jadhav, Murali Vijay, Dwayne Bravo, Ambati Rayudu, Faf Du Plessis, Imran Tahir and MS Dhoni himself are either 35 or nearing forty.
Fans and experts have criticized the age factor of the old brigade but former CSK pacer Ashish Nehra is against the decision to shuffle and revamp the squad too much.
Ashish Nehra is one of those finest cricketers who challenged the age factor with his hard work and consistency and played professional cricket until he was 39. The veteran asserted that it’s just a bad season for CSK, and age shouldn’t be a parameter to measure players’ capabilities.
“We have seen in the IPL, people talk about CSK (players) being 30-35 and in the wrong side of 35. But we have seen what they are capable of doing. It’s just one season and I hope we see the old CSK again next season,” Ashish Nehra said on Star Sports.
“MS Dhoni knows how to take it in his stride. We are talking about a guy who is mentally strong. I don’t think it’s that big a deal for him. It hurts when you don’t qualify. But I hope we see MS Dhoni again and the same old CSK.”
Ashish Nehra made a national comeback in the T20I squad for India’s tour of Australia 2016, and the Asia Cup and the World T20 in 2016 after playing his last test in 2004 and last ODI in 2011. He played his last ever international match in a T20I against New Zealand in 2017. He represented various franchises including Chennai Super Kings in 2014 and 2015.
Ashish Nehra Who Played Cricket Till 39 Hopes To See Shane Watson Continue And Feels There’s No Need Of Reshuffling
Ashish Nehra, who is of 41 years of age, played cricket internationally till November 2017 which included 17 Tests, 120 ODIs and 27 T20Is after injuries plagued his career. Ashish Nehra was the second oldest player to represent India in T20Is, at the age of 38 years 186 days, only exceeded by batsman Rahul Dravid, who played at the age of 38 years 232 days.
He feels that there is no need for shuffling CSK except Shane Watson who may retire at the end of IPL 2020. But he hoped that the Australian would play in next year’s IPL too.
“I don’t think so (big reshuffle happening next year). 30-35 is not old. Somebody like me, I played IPL until I was 39. And if with my body, as a fast bowler, I can play at the age of 39, they can play for longer. Maybe Shane Watson… we still hope his presence next year. Apart from that, I don’t think they will look to shuffle it too much,” he asserted.
CSK won their second match in a row as they defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets on Thursday. Ruturaj Gaikwad top-scored with 72 off 53 balls while all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja provided the final flourish scoring 31 off 11 balls including 2 fours and 3 sixes hitting pacer Kamlesh Nagarkoti for two sixes in last two balls to end KKR’s hopes for a win.