Indian left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra has become a trending topic since his inclusion in the Indian squad for the T20I series against Australia. It is known to everyone that he has missed a sizable amount of matches in his 19-year career, due to injuries. But now, he wants to prolong his career at least by two years.
Talking to ESPN Cricinfo, Nehra said, “The only one thing that I’m not happy is my body. I can play for another couple of years but it isn’t easy for a fast bowler at 38-39, especially considering the state of my body. But I am just trying my level best. At times when I wake up, especially in the winter in Delhi, my knees are so sore, it is half an hour before I can even leave my bed and am able to walk.”
He further elaborated, “I have had four surgeries on my ankle, plus my knee is always sore. But again, after half an hour so I say it to myself that I have to do it. I am the kind of person that if I decide [I’ll do] something, I have to do it. There’s no rocket science to this. You have to give 3-4 hours of the day to your body, definitely, you will get the result. Some may get it later, but in the end, you will.”
Nehra regrets the fact that he missed a lot of matches due to injuries, he said, “When you are young you don’t understand these things, you don’t understand the value of playing for India. In the last 7-8 years I missed so much cricket, maybe you can say I am trying to catch that up. You can never go back, but for the last 4-5 years I am pushing myself and I am getting the results. I am a firm believer that if my body is okay I can still play and deliver. That’s why I am always aware of my body.”
Nehra concluded by elaborating the reasons he has been able to return to cricket, he said, “I am someone who always prepares. Even if no one is there at the ground, I practice. I just need a wicketkeeper who can take my balls. I bowl a lot at a single wicket, I put pressure on myself. After bowling, I will do some fielding. My practice sessions are not too long, they are an hour and a half to two hours. But I keep that intensity going so when I play the game I don’t feel sore.”
