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.

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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.

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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.
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