Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 11 views

    Ashish Nehra's Grand Farewell at Feroz Shah Kotla

    Uploaded by

    sivajirao70
    Ashish Nehra played his final international match, bowling the last over at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium where his career began. At 38 years old, Nehra bid farewell to the game he served for close to 19 years. Though he went wicketless, Nehra was happy and signed off with no regrets, prioritizing team success over personal stats.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Ashish Nehra's Grand Farewell at Feroz Shah Kotla

    Uploaded by

    sivajirao70
    11 views3 pages
    Ashish Nehra played his final international match, bowling the last over at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium where his career began. At 38 years old, Nehra bid farewell to the game he served for close to 19 years. Though he went wicketless, Nehra was happy and signed off with no regrets, prioritizing team success over personal stats.

    Original Description:

    Sports

    Original Title

    Ashish Nehra Farewell

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Ashish Nehra played his final international match, bowling the last over at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium where his career began. At 38 years old, Nehra bid farewell to the game he served for close to 19 years. Though he went wicketless, Nehra was happy and signed off with no regrets, prioritizing team success over personal stats.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    11 views3 pages

    Ashish Nehra's Grand Farewell at Feroz Shah Kotla

    Uploaded by

    sivajirao70
    Ashish Nehra played his final international match, bowling the last over at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium where his career began. At 38 years old, Nehra bid farewell to the game he served for close to 19 years. Though he went wicketless, Nehra was happy and signed off with no regrets, prioritizing team success over personal stats.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3

    Ashish Nehras grand farewell

    at Feroz Shah Kotla


    In his last international game, Ashish Nehra strode into the sunset with ease,
    bowled at a fair clip and in his words, signed off with no regrets.
    Written by Sahil Malhotra | New Delhi | Updated: November 2, 2017 10:41 pm

    The veteran left-arm seamer marked his run-up to bowl the last six deliveries of his international
    career, by design facing the Ashish Nehra End named after him. The chants inside the Feroz
    Shah Kotla stadium were deafening as the 38-year-old bid goodbye to the game he served for
    close to 19 years. Almost overpowering the floodlights a thousand phones flashed. It seemed as
    if a swarm of fireflies had covered the seats.
    The cricketing equation, by Nehras own admission at the post-match presser, was well over by
    over no 16. After bowling two overs inside the powerplay with the new ball, Nehra bowled one
    in the middle overs and was then informed by Kohli that he will be bowling the last of the match.
    Nehra, Nehra chants kept getting louder as he approached the popping crease for the first of
    his legal deliveries in the over.
    About 20 years ago, at the very stadium, facing the same end, Nehra commenced his First-Class
    career when he turned out for Ajay Sharma-led Delhi in a domestic match against Haryana. On
    Wednesday, in front of a capacity crowd which was on their feet, the lanky seamer fittingly
    finishing what he started. Its not about how you start, but how you finish, was how he
    summed it up at the end of days play.
    In an injury-hit career, Nehra does have some regrets. But his farewell match couldnt have been
    one. His family in the stands, former teammates in the commentary box and billions watching at
    home, Nehra strode into the sunset with ease, bowling that last four overs of his career at a fair
    clip. Luck certainly wasnt on his side as a catch went down and Kohli failed to hold on to what
    could have been a one-handed stunner.

    Im not a stats person


    Will he have regrets for returning wicketless? Of course not. For Nehra, the game has always
    been about making memories and not statistics. For him, the six-wicket haul against England was
    special, but similar number of wickets against Sri Lanka in the Indian Oil Cup final wasnt. For
    me those six wickets dont matter. If team doesnt win, your satisfaction personally might be
    there, but in the end, it is a team game, Nehra explained.
    If you ask anyone about Nehra the person and player, team man will be the response shot back
    at you. For me those 15 people inside the team are most important and if they are saying that
    they want me to play more, that is most important. Rest will have opinions be it the
    commentators, the media or the people but for me they are the most important, said Nehra.
    Well before his final match got underway, there was plenty of speculation. Many felt he didnt
    deserve a farewell match while the chairman of selectors didnt guarantee a spot in the Playing
    XI for his final match. But Nehra hardly cares. When I started playing, it wasnt by speaking to
    any of the selectors. When Im retiring, it isnt by telling them either, came the crisp reply.
    The six deliveries of his final over went in a flash, just like his long career, spanning close to two
    decades. Kaise gaye woh 20 saal, an emotional Nehra said during his last presser in the Indian
    jersey. In his own words there will be, and were, regrets. No one is completely satisfied, he
    would say. Even Tendulkar would have wanted to score 5000 more runs. Every statement of
    Nehra would be backed by a candid comparison you would smile at. With his Indian cap resting
    on the table, Nehra had one of the most entertaining interactions.

    Kisi ki mehnat kabhi kharab nahi jaati


    These words made so much sense when the veteran took the final lap of honour at the ground
    where he started his journey as a cricketer. Towards the home stretch, he was lifted on shoulders
    of Virat Kohli and Shikar Dhawan, his junior teammates in the Delhi team and the players he
    saw get better by the day from close quarters.

    Twitter Ads info and privacy

    Well before completing the lap amid chants of Nehra, Nehra, and Kohli urging the crowd to
    make it louder, Nehra reminded everyone of the values he was made of, both as a person and a
    cricketer. After shaking hands with the opposition captain Kane Williamson, who happens to be
    his teammate at Sunrisers Hyderabad, Nehra saw a familiar face in former India and Delhi
    captain Bishan Singh Bedi, seated behind the advertising boards. The seamer rushed, touched his
    feet and took the stalwarts blessings. Kohli and Dhawan followed and did the same.

    Twitter Ads info and privacy


    Running high on emotions, the show came to an end when Nehra crossed his legs and sat on the
    ground for a quirky picture with his teammates. The social media was flooded with tributes and
    messages for Nehra Ji. It was Sehwags Old is gold tweet, which was done every time Nehra
    took a wicket on his return to India T20 side before World Cup 2016, which would have flashed
    everywhere. Just like Nehra would have in front of those thousands cameras of the spectators
    which saw curtains come down on a memorable career.
    For all the latest Sports News, download Indian Express App
    IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd

    You might also like