Nehra said: “It’s always good to retire when people ask why rather than why not.”
Ashish Nehra (Photo: Facebook)
India’s warhorse pacer Ashish Nehra on Thursday announced his decision to retire after the first T20I against New Zealand at the Feroz Shah Kotla, New Delhi, on November 1.
Ashish Nehra to bid adieu to International Cricket on November 1 in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/Cl9AfOapHK
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— BCCI (@BCCI) October 12, 2017
Calling it a decision taken on his own and not forced, Nehra said: “It’s always good to retire when people ask why rather than why not.”
“I always wanted to retire on a high note. It can’t get bigger than that. I’ll play my last match in front of my home crowd,” Nehra said while referring to the turf where he played his first Ranji Trophy game.
Showing his faith in young pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the 38-year-old fast bowler added: “Watching the young pacers coming matured enough, I think this is the right time to call it quits.”
Recently on a chat show, Nehra had jokingly said he would play his last match at the age of 40. Late on Wednesday, when his retirement news came it was assumed if the old-timer has been forced to quit. However, the jolly lanky pacer clarified it all in the press conference.
Nehra, who has played 163 international matches for India, said he always trained to play for India and won’t play in IPL after retiring from international cricket.
“I was always mentally strong. I always used to train to play for India. A lot of people are asking me if I am retiring from IPL as well. I am that sort of a person I train day in and day out to play for India. I am retiring in November; I’ve five months to prepare for IPL like I said I could have easily played another year of international cricket also but that’s my decision. Once I leave, I’ll leave. I won’t play IPL,” Nehra said.
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