Takes me just one game to get back into the groove, says Nehra 

INDIA VETERAN Ashish Nehra has divulged that he never feels short of match practice and that it takes him just one game to get back into the groove. 

Nehra’s return to the squad ahead of the three-match T20 series against England was met with a lot of age-related criticism. However, the 37-year-old silenced all his critics by bowling an impressive spell to guide India to a five-run win in the second T20 at Nagpur. Picking three crucial wickets, the Delhi-lad gave away just 28 runs in four overs. In an interaction with PTI, the stalwart asserted, 

“Whether I’m playing 50 overs or T20 or if I’m bowling in the nets with a single stump to aim at, I’ve never felt short of match practice. It takes me only one game to get back into the groove.” 

Nehra, who had played World T20 championship held in early 2016, led the Sunrisers Hyderabad bowling attack in the IPL season nine. Subsequently, he took a break from cricket to undergo a knee surgery.  

After recuperating and returning to full fitness, Nehra feels that age is just a number and that he can play as long as he is performing well in the team.

“I will play domestic cricket in the coming months 50 overs and T20 and there’s IPL too for two months. I believe if you’ve been playing so much for so long, match practice is very important whether you’re a bowler or batsman. People like me or MS Dhoni who are not playing Test cricket right now, we have to play domestic games and ultimately experience does matter. Regarding age, unfortunately in India, if you keep performing well then people will praise you. And if the team loses couple of matches, then people won’t criticize the rest of the 15 but will say Ashish Nehra should be dropped. It doesn’t make a difference to me but age is just a number.”

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