World Cup-Winner Set To Announce Retirement Next Month

Veteran fast-bowler Ashish Nehra is reportedly contemplating announcing his retirement from international cricket in the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand. The 38-year old, who now only plies his trade in the shortest format of the game, has been recalled into the T20 team for the ongoing series against Australia and is likely to be retained in the team for the series against New Zealand.

According to the report in Mumbai Mirror, the 2011 World Cup-winner could call it a day anytime during the New Zealand series if not exactly after the Australia series. The news outlet claimed that multiple sources have revealed that the Delhi star could delay the announcement till next month so that he can sign off his career at home. India will kick start the T20I series against New Zealand at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi on November 1.

With injury plaguing his career, Nehra has stopped playing first-class cricket since 2014 and rarely features in the 50-over domestic cricket. He last played a list A game in February when he turned up for Delhi against Maharashtra in Cuttack for a Vijay Hazare game.

 

The latest report, meanwhile, contradicts his statement with a leading cricket portal where he said that he can play for a couple of years.

“The only one thing that I’m not happy is my body,” Nehra was quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “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.”

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“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 had added.

Speaking on how he motivates himself despite being undergoing surgeries on multiple occasions, he had said: “I have had four surgeries in my ankle, plus my knee is always sore. But again, after half an hour or 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.”

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