When Ashish Nehra Told Sourav Ganguly 'Dada, Daro Mat' During A Pakistan Game

Veteran fast-bowler Ashish Nehra brought down curtains on his 18-year old international career after the first T20 International against New Zealand on Wednesday (November 1) at the Feroz Shah Kotla. The injury-prone pacer braved more than 10 surgeries to play for India for close to two decades and bowed out of the game as one of the most beloved characters in the history of Indian cricket.

As expected, tributes poured in from all the corners for one of the finest servants of Indian cricket and his former India teammate Hemang Badani gave the left-arm pacer one of the most interesting tributes by revealing a brilliant anecdote.  In a video posted on Facebook, Badani revealed how Nehra had taken the onus on himself to take the team home when former skipper Sourav Ganguly was a bit clueless as to whom he should give the final over in a tight match against Pakistan.

Badani, through the video, revealed that how Nehra told the fearless Ganguly not to bother and went on to defend the runs.

“I remember one such incident which was in 2004, the epic India vs Pakistan series in Karachi. We scored about 350. Pakistan needed about 9 or 10 of the last over and there was a bit of confusion at the ground as to who is going to bowl the last over and Nehra standing at fine-leg at that point of time runs in to Sourav and he says, ‘Dada (Sourav), mein dalta hoon, aap daro mat. Mein match win karke dunga’ and as things may fall in and things would happen he just gave 3 of the over, got the wicket of a set Moin Khan and won us the game,” said Badani in the video.

Here’s Badani’s Facebook post:

“The man who said ‘Dada, Daro Mat’ to Dada himself. The man who battled so many injuries with such positivity. Has a fighting temperament & a big heart. Wishing you a wonderful retired life Ashish Nehra. You kept the Indian Flag flying high playing for the Country. #INDvNZ,” he captioned the video.

Video of the day: