Kohli and Shastri knew about my retirement plan and not selectors: Ashish Nehra

Ashish Nehra who retired from International cricket on Wednesday has cleared that only the captain and coach knew about his retirement plan. These comments from the veteran have come after the chief selector MSK Prasad had claimed that they had made clear to him that they won’t be looking up to him beyond the New Zealand series. Nehra bowed out of the game on a winning note as the Indian team steamrolled the Kiwis by 53 in the first of the three-match T20I series.

The 38-year-old himself bowled really well and opened the bowling for his country one final time. Though he was unlucky not pick a wicket, he conceded only 29 runs in his quota of four overs. He also bowled the last over of the innings aa the scenes became emotional for the cricketer in the end. Nehra went on a victory lap to greet the crowd after the game even as Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan took him on his shoulders.

I did not ask for a farewell game

Ashish Nehra cleared the air by saying that the selection committee didn’t speak to him about not considering him beyond New Zealand series. He also stressed that the decision of retiring was completely his own. “I heard this. I don’t know. The chairman of selection committee has not spoken to me about this. You have asked me this question, and I can only tell you about my interaction with the team management,” he told reporters after the game.

“When I reached Ranchi, I told Virat about my plan, and his first reaction was, ‘Are you sure? You can still play IPL. You can play as coach-cum-player.’ I said no. I am retiring completely.” Nehra ji continued. He also said that he never asked for a farewell game and luckily it happened on his home ground. “I have been saying this again and again. Luckily this game happened to be in Delhi. I have not asked for a farewell game or anything. This is perhaps one way that god has rewarded me for all the hard work I have put in over the last eight-nine years,” he added.

“I hope Virat and coach Ravi Shastri are part of the team management because those are the people I spoke to. I have not spoken to any selector over this issue. When I started playing cricket, I didn’t take any selector’s permission. When I am leaving, I am not leaving with their permission,” Nehra concluded with a stunning statement.