'Not proud of my behaviour' - Ashish Nehra on hurling abuses at MS Dhoni in 2005 for dropping a catch against Pakistan

Former India cricketer Ashish Nehra had many memorable moment during his 18-year illustrious cricketing career. His memorable comeback into the Indian team at the fag end of his career is often talked about. However, another incident linked to Nehra which is still fresh in the fans’s minds is when he abused MS Dhoni in 2005 during the game against Pakistan in Ahmedabad.

Chasing 316 runs to level the series, Pakistan had got off to a decent start. And the left-arm pacer had created a chance in the fourth over of the innings. Shahid Afridi edged a wide delivery from Ashish Nehra only for the ball to go between Dhoni and Rahul Dravid who was standing at slip. Soon after the chance went begging, the bowler was seen abusing the wicket-keeper in utter disappointment.

Recalling the incident, the 38-year-old admits that he isn’t proud of his actions in that match. As far as the match is concerned, Ashish Nehra also failed to pick a wicket in the game conceding 75 runs in nine overs even as the visitors went on to level the series off the final delivery of the innings.

“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.

“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,” he was quoted as saying by the Times of India.

Video went viral because it has Dhoni in it, says Ashish Nehra

Moreover, Ashish Nehra, revealing his usual humourous side, went on to add that the video on Youtube went viral because a personality like MS Dhoni is present in it. He also recalled the picture of him awarding Virat Kohli during the latter’s childhood days stating that it is also famous due to the Indian captain and he has nothing to do with it.

“The video is still popular because it has Dhoni in it. It’s like that old picture of me presenting an award to Virat Kohli  when he was a kid. The picture is famous because it has Kohli in it, not because of me. I know someday my kids will eventually watch that video clip and I’ll have to explain why I behaved that way!” Ashish Nehra further added.

Here’s the video of Nehra abusing MS Dhoni: