Perseverance is a virtue hard to find in this world that is turning more impatient by the day. Even in the sporting world, the fascination is often towards the rags to riches fairytale stories of rapid success. But there are a few who still believe in, and practice the good old ideology of never giving up; of climbing on tirelessly and, sometimes, painfully, until they reach the zenith.
One such story of perseverance is that of Ashish Nehra. Since his first-class debut, in 1997-98, the fast bowler has endured a highly topsy-turvy ride in his cricketing journey. His has been a career that began with tremendous promise and anticipation, but slowed down by his own body.
Nehra suffered several injuries and nursed his troubling ankle time and again. He must have spent hours in the surgeon’s room, days in rehab and months in the nets trying to generate his bowling rhythm from the scratch. He was a vital cog in MS Dhoni’s unit that lifted the 2011 Cricket World Cup at home. And that could have been Nehra’s last moment in Indian colours. Or so some thought.
It would have been tempting for someone else in his place, and with his body, to resign to that thought. But not Nehra. Even as India started to produce a line of young, quick, exciting fast bowlers, this wily left-arm pacer continued to toil hard at the domestic level, all the while believing that he will put that India cap on again.
He persisted, worked insanely hard to not only keep his body bowling fit but also injury free. He wowed one and all with his impressive consistency and potency in IPL 2015, where he picked up 22 wickets in 16 matches, often effecting early breakthroughs.
Nehra’s perseverance finally paid off when he got picked for India’s big ongoing T20I season, starting from the three-match series in Australia and culminating with the ICC World Twenty20, 2016.
And for the 36-year-old fast bowler, there is no better feeling. “Whoever plays domestic cricket, their goal is to play for India. For me, playing for India after a gap of four years is an amazing feeling,” Nehra told BCCI.TV.
Observing Team India’s warm-up sessions, you can tell how well Nehra understands the requirements of his own body, and gives it exactly that, even if it means missing out on a bit of fun. While the rest of his team-mates indulge in a spirited game of football, Nehra is seen doing his fitness drills with the physio and perfectly executing various poses of yoga.
For him, it is a low price to pay. “I would love to play football with the team, but I have had so many injuries in the past, so I try to keep football away from my schedule,” Nehra says earnestly.
It is no secret that one reason Nehra has been called up into the Indian team setup is for the experience and guile he brings while bowling on the subcontinent pitches. And this veteran campaigner is eager to take up the tough role of bowling in the first and last six overs of a T20 innings.
“I would love to do that job. Those are tough overs to bowl, and if the captain wants me to bowl in the first six and final overs, that means I am bowling well. I have done that in the IPL under the same captain.”
While he is more than happy to be MS Dhoni’s experienced hand in the bowling attack, Nehra has tremendous confidence in the young pacers that have joined him in the team.“We have some very good young bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Whatever experience I have, I try to pass it on to them.”
Bumrah, who was acknowledged by Dhoni as ‘The find of the tour’ after India’s 3-0 T20I series win in Australia, has impressed Nehra equally. “It is not easy for a young bowler like him to land in the country and play two days later,” Nehra said. “He bowled really well in the last ODI, in Sydney and continued in the T20s.
“The way he bowled in Australia and is shaping up, is great to see. In this format it is not easy for any bowler – at times, you bowl well but still go for runs. It is a tough format but it is good for him that he has played for Mumbai Indians and has that experience of bowling in this format. That’s what the IPL gives to young Indian players.”
Nehra also has high hopes for Hardik Pandya, who he believes could fill the long-standing void of a genuine pace all-rounder in the Indian lineup.
“I call him a West Indian guy from Baroda, because of his mannerisms and demeanour,” Nehra said of Pandya. “He is very comfortable and an easy going guy. He is an amazing talent and a fast bowling all-rounder that India need. I definitely see potential. If he works hard and everything falls in place, he will be really good for India, especially in one-day cricket.”
For Nehra, the next goal is to recreate the magic of the 2011 World Cup, in the ICC World Twenty20 2016. “It is a great feeling to play in any World Cup, and especially when you are playing in India. Hopefully, we can win it this time.”
