Rohit Sharma's wicket was the turning point: Ashish Nehra

Rohit Sharma’s wicket was the turning point: Ashish Nehra: Man of the Match in the last night’s game between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians Ashish Nehra has said that bowlers are the won are key for their teams in Twenty20 format despite the format tends to me batsmen friendly. He also said that in T20 format, wickets upfront matters and for that, the bowlers should be aggressive and have to bowl a good line and length.

After Chennai’s win, Nehra said It is a batsman’s game, but I still believe bowlers are the ones who win you matches. T20 is a format where you don’t get wickets when you are bowling well. It’s important to pick wickets with the new ball. You have to be aggressive if you want to pick wickets. If you bowl a good line and length up front, you set the tone. I just try to do the things which I am good at. Bowling first or second the first 2-3 overs are always crucial. Everyone knows 180 or 190 is a par score, especially on wickets like in Bangalore (Bengaluru) or Bombay (Mumbai). You always look to bowl tight up front and look to take wickets as you can’t bowl 2 overs or 3 for ten runs without taking wickets. If you want to do that you have to swing the ball and bowl in good areas and that’s what I was looking to do.

He also added that, skipper MS Dhoni’s decision to give him the ball I the 15^th over proved to be the turning point as it produced the huge wicket of dangerous Rohit Sharma. It wasn’t easy with not only Kieron Pollard hitting from one side. Everybody knows what kind of player Rohit Sharma is and what he can do. That was a timely wicket. I have been somebody who, in one-day cricket, has bowled ten overs in three spells or in T20 bowled three overs up front or the last 1-2 overs. Even today Mahendra Singh (Dhoni) gave me over number 15. At one stage, I was thinking he’s giving it to me too early. He came up to me and told me we need wickets, the way the game is going you know last 4-5 overs can be 80-90 runs. You have to look to pick wickets and I always try to pick wickets and that’s exactly what happened, Nehra said.

He also stressed on fitness being the main weapon for pacers and spoke about his own form. He quoted I had a very good rhythm. I had a very good Champions League. Sometimes in T20, you are bowling well but don’t take wickets and people don’t notice. I am bowling with the new ball and taking wickets, which is healthy for the team. In fast bowling fitness is the main thing. In fast bowling 60-70 per cent is fitness. I am feeling fit and in good rhythm which are helping me. And in the type of team I am in there are very good players and my confidence increases.