New Delhi: Veteran speedster Ashish Nehra has decided to retire from competitive cricket after the first T20 International against New Zealand at his home ground, Feroz Shah Kotla here, November 1.
According to a senior BCCI official privy to the development, the 38-year-old Nehra has already intimated his decision to chief coach Ravi Shastri and skipper Virat Kohli.
With ICC not slotting any World T20 game in 2018, Nehra apparently told the team management that it is only fair that performing juniors have a longer rope. It is understood that Nehra won’t be a part of the IPL next season.
Making his India debut back in 1999 under Mohammed Azharuddin, Nehra has so far played 17 Tests, 120 ODIs and 26 T20 Internationals for the country. He has picked 44 Test wickets, besides 157 ODI and 34 T20 scalps.
“Yes, Ashish has told both Ravi and Virat that he does not want to continue beyond November 1 when India plays New Zealand at the Feroz Shah Kotla. Obviously, there is some element of surprise. One thought that he would like to continue till the home season against Sri Lanka. But he feels, it’s the right time to move on,” the senior official told this agency Wednesday.
Nehra was recently picked for the three-match T20 series against Australia but everyone was surprised when he did not figure in the playing XI for the first two matches.
“Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah are form bowlers and Ashish felt that it’s only fair in the interest of the team that they continue,” informed the official.
It has been learnt that a few IPL franchises want Nehra as their bowling coach-cum-mentor as his expertise and knowledge with white ball is considered to be unparalleled.
Nehra was also a member of the 2011 World Cup winning Indian team, but did not play in the final because of an injury.
