Never say never was my attitude, says Nehra

18 years, eight months, nine days. Not many cricketers can boast of such a vast period of action in the international arena. A period that began when the concept of Twenty20 cricket did not even exist!

So when Ashish Nehra walked out at Feroz Shah Kotla, his home ground, on Wednesday (November 1) night, it was indeed a special occasion for the veteran pacer.

Among Indians, Nehra has had the fourth longest career in terms of years, after Sachin Tendulkar (24 years, 1 day), Mohinder Amarnath (19 years, 310 days) and Lala Amarnath (19 years, 0 days).

Having first donned the Indian jersey in February, 1999, against Sri Lanka in the second Test in Colombo, Nehra went on to play 17 Tests, 120 One-Day Internationals and 27 Twenty20 Internationals before retiring from the game at a sprightly age of 38.

"It is difficult (to leave the game after playing for so long), but every person is different, and I consider myself fortunate that I got a chance to exit on my home ground," Nehra told reporters in a long chat after India beat New Zealand by 53 runs in New Delhi on Wednesday. "I have said this earlier also, it’s good to go when everyone feels you can still play. I always wanted to exit on the top. In four months’ time it will be 19 years since my debut, and I consider myself lucky that as a fast bowler, I’m still leaving from the Indian dressing room after so many years and at the age of 38."

Nehra, who has 235 wickets against his name across formats, suffered from a series of injuries through his career, but his resilience and hard work allowed him to come back strong, and eventually leave at his own terms.

"Several big people thought that Ashish Nehra is gone and won’t come back! My attitude was always, ‘Never say never’," he added. "Four years I was out of the team, I never asked anyone the reason, I did what was in my hand. If you see the 2009-11 period, I was the highest wicket-taker in ODIs and T20Is not just for India but even in the world in the top three. After the 2011 World Cup I had a finger injury, we won the World Cup – and after that I didn’t play for four years. There were times even at the Sonnet club with my coach Tarak Sinha, that in the summer time nobody will be there. Maybe only 20 kids. But I would be bowling to a single stump.

"I love cricket. And I always wanted to retire on a high. I’ve said this earlier also, it’s always good to retire when people are saying ‘Why’ rather than ‘Why not’. But I loved cricket, and still do. So I did whatever I knew how to do. And I believe that if you give time to the game, you will get results sooner or later, in some way or the other. If you devote three-four hours to the game every day, whether training or practice… but I got this realisation a little late. But better late than never. I can say after 2008 that whatever I could do best I have done. So I have no regrets there. And it’s not how you start, it’s always how you finish. And I feel it cannot get better than this."

A lot has changed in cricket over the years, and the Indian team in particular has achieved a number of special feats in the last two decades. Nehra experienced all of it first hand, and bowing out, he feels Indian cricket is in safe custody.

"Cricket is the kind of sport that changes every 8-10 years," he pointed out. "It’s not that the Indian team wasn’t good earlier. But every team has phases. When I started, from 2001 to about 2007-08, Australia were very difficult to beat. I still remember the 2003 World Cup, I was feeling as a bowler that I am bowling well but Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting always seemed a step ahead. Like for the past two-three years, bowlers might feel they are doing well but Virat is a step ahead of them, Rohit is a step ahead of them. So every team goes through transition periods. The Sri Lanka and West Indies teams are different from what they were earlier."

Retirement from the sport will give Nehra more time to spend with his family, but it will surely not keep the cricket fanatic in him away for too long. So what avatar can we expect to see Nehra in next?

"I haven’t decided yet, but I’m definitely someone who knows only cricket. Aur kuch aata nahin hai (I don't have many skills outside the sport)! So whatever opportunity comes, coaching or commentary or who knows, I haven’t decided anything. I will sit, relax and decide what I want to do. And whatever little bit I know about the game, if I’m doing commentary I would like to share. If I’m coaching, whatever I can help the boys with, I will try to do it."

Go well, Nehra. Thank you for the memories.