Ashish Nehra admits that it is the right time to move on from the game that he loves

Veteran left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra has admitted that time has come, or him to step down from the game that he dearly loves. Nehra was recalled to the squad for the shortest format of the game, after spending most of the IPL season out with an injury. Since his return, the left-arm seamer was not picked in the playing XI despite being the most experienced seamer in the squad.

Following the loss against the visiting Australian side in Guwahati, the veteran decided to reveal that he would end his career in front of his home crowd in Delhi. Nehra believes that it would be a fitting end to his career and an honour to play for the last time at his home ground, a dream come true for the veteran.

Ahead of the decider in the 3-match T20I series, Nehra spoke to Telegraph over WhatsApp, post the media conference in Hyderabad. The left-arm seamer shared a few facts about his life, and how he had struggled to get up to where he is at the moment.

The decision

Nehra was asked about the first person that he would take into confidence revealed, that “I had a discussion with my wife (Rushma) and, then, I told captain Virat Kohli and head coach Ravi Shastri the day I reached Ranchi, on October 5. Afterwards, I informed the selectors.”

While the rest of Indian fans seemed shocked on hearing the decision, the veteran said, “They (Shastri and Kohli) were absolutely fine with my decision. Ravi, in fact, was happy that my thinking was clear… This is the way forward for the team, and a few more T20Is wouldn’t make a difference to my life.”

Most grateful to

The most important question amongst the lot was the one where the journalist asked Nehra, on who he is most grateful to in life. Nehra replied, “My parents, obviously… My coach, Mr Tarak Sinha… Most definitely my wife, who has been with me through difficult times in my career. I cannot also forget to express my gratitude to all the captains I played under. It’s a ‘thank you’ to each one of them.”

It would be a saddening sight to see the left-arm seamer step down from the game that he nearly and dearly loved.