While the former Indian left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra rarely entered the controversy during his international career, once he was caught for abusing the then young wicketkeeper MS Dhoni for missing an opportunity to dismiss the dangerous Pakistan batsman Shahid Afridi. The 40-year-old Nehra admitted that it was a wrong behaviour from him.
Recently, Ashish Nehra shared that experience. He also correctly remembered that game which was played at Ahmedabad, not at Visakhapatnam that many believed. The Ahmedabad ODI was the fourth game of the six-match ODI series between the hosts India and the visitors Pakistan where India suffered a defeat on the final ball of that match.
Chasing down the 316 runs target in 48 overs, Pakistan got a firing start due to the opener Shahid Afridi. On the final ball of the fourth over of that innings, Afridi edged to Nehra that quickly travelled between the wicketkeeper MS Dhoni and the only slip-fielder Rahul Dravid for a four. Dhoni went for an attempt, but that ball was too quick for him. Nehra was very angry at that incident and abused Dhoni. However, Nehra now admitted that it was a wrong behaviour from him.
Nehra told TOI, “In a video that went viral, I am seen hurling abuses at MS after an edge off Shahid Afridi’s bat goes between Dhoni and Rahul Dravid at first slip. People assume it’s from the Vizag match, but that incident is from the fourth ODI in Ahmedabad. However, I must admit I am not proud of my behaviour.”
Ashish Nehra revealed why he lost his cool at that moment
Nehra also talked about that entire situation. While the India-Pakistan match is always a pressure game, Afridi hit him a sixer on the previous ball. So, while an opportunity was missed on the next ball, Nehra lost control over himself and reacted too early. He also admitted that Dravid and Dhoni both were normal with him at the end of that game, but that didn’t justify his behaviour.
Nehra added, “I had been hit for six by Afridi off just the previous ball. There was the usual pressure of an India-Pakistan match. Suddenly, I created a chance and it was missed. I lost my cool. That wasn’t the only incident where a player has lost his cool in that manner. Both Dravid and Dhoni were fine with me after the game but that doesn’t justify my behaviour.”
Pakistan won that match by three wickets on the final ball of the game. Afridi scored 40 runs off 23 balls while another opener Salman Butt scored 48 runs and Abdul Razzaq scored 44 runs. Then Shoaib Malik (65) and the captain Inzamam-ul-Haq (60*) played the very crucial roles to secure a thrilling victory in that game which levelled the series (2-2).