Press Trust of India
New Delhi, April 18: Hailing MS Dhoni as the best Indian captain in ‘pressure situations’, veteran pace bowler Ashish Nehra expressed his regret of not responding to feelers that the skipper had sent him to make a Test comeback in 2009, which would have helped him play more than just 17 matches.
The soon-to-be 37, Nehra has made a remarkable comeback albeit in the shortest format and his stupendous performance in the World T20 led to his selection in the ‘Team of the Tournament’.
“Right from my debut under Mohammed Azharuddin (in 1999), I have played under so many captains but when it comes to remaining cool and delivering under pressure, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is the best. I have not seen anyone who can remain so composed under pressure,” Nehra stated Monday.
The left-arm pace bowler also stated that he should have responded to MSD’s call, asking him to join the Test squad.
“In 2009, Dhoni and the then coach Gary Kirsten had asked me if I would like to make a Test comeback. I was around 30-31 then and should have responded positively but I was not very sure. That is something I will regret forever, because, I could have played more than the 17 Tests, I ultimately played,” the bowler informed.