Even though the social media was in splits when the national selectors picked old-timer Ashish Nehra for the Australia T20Is, the pacer wasn’t much affected and promised an impressive comeback in the first T20I to be held in Chennai on Saturday.

“Who isn’t happy if he is playing for India? I have never been bothered by criticism. The Indian dressing room knows what I bring to the table. The skipper knows it, the selectors know it. If I am in the team, definitely, I must be contributing something,” Nehra told PTI in an interview.

The 38-year-old warhorse pacer has no long-term targets; he believes no matter how he performs, he’ll be in the news, always.

“At my age, you don’t set long term goals. I have been selected to play three games for India. I will take one game at a time. Waise bhi Ashish Nehra achha karega toh bhi news hai, achha nahi karega toh woh aur bhi badi news hai (If I do well, that’s news, if I don’t do well, that’s even bigger news).”

The old-school cricketer, who has always kept himself away from technology, has recently started using a smart phone. Nehra said he utilises the time well on field that he saves from the social media and smart phone.

“I don’t even know what people say about me on Twitter. Now, people may have a notion that since I am not visible on social media and now that I am in the team, where was I during the period. Well, I was religiously following my training schedule, working on my fitness, doing my bowling routines. Things you actually do to make a comeback,” he explained.

Nehra has represented India in 26 T20Is, 17 Tests and 120 ODIs and will complete his 19 years in cricket in February next year.

“Come February, 2018, I will complete 19 years in international cricket. Save myself and Harbhajan Singh, I don’t think there is any player, who made their debuts under Mohammed Azharuddin. There has to be some kind of motivation that keeps a sportsman going,” Nehra said.

Sidelining the pressure to perform on return, Nehra said he has been under the knife throughout his career.

“At this stage of my career, I don’t need to play for money. I have had 12 surgeries. Ask any sportsman, what it takes to recover from one and here I have been under the knife 12 times. Still in the morning, when I wake up, I am keen to go for training. That’s the motivation,” the Delhi fast bowler said.

(With inputs from agency)