Wednesday 30 / October / 2024
Bengaluru, India: Ashish Nehra has contributed significantly to the Indian team's recent success in the shortest format and the old warhorse says he is enjoying his role of a mentor in the fast bowling department.
India lost to New Zealand in the ongoing World T20 before turning it around against Pakistan and Nehra did his bit in both crucial games, taking a wicket each for 20 runs.
"I am enjoying it. My job is very important to pass my experience which I gathered in last 16-17 years to Bumrah, Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. I am sure I am helping them,"
Nehra said on the eve of their match against Bangladesh. Nehra said the mood in the Indian camp is good after a thumping win over old foe Pakistan.
"Our mood is good. The kind of cricket we are playing in the last two to three months, we are all happy and satisfied. Hopefully, we would like to take it forward even further the kind of fire power we have, if put to use, we will definitely win the game," he said.
The left-arm pacer asserted that there is no room for complacency going into the remaining leagues games because the T20 format does not guarantee any team qualifying into the knockout stages even if they win three out four matches.
"This game, everyone knows, from day one - every game is a knockout game. There is a possibility that even if you win three out of four games, you still cannot qualify as the format is such that there is no room for complacency," he said.
Replying to a query, Nehra said India is not taking Bangladesh lightly as they have been playing good cricket of late.
"Bangladesh have been playing goo cricket for the last two to three years. The way they have improved is quite amazing. We will not take Bangladesh lightly. We have to play to our potential if we have to beat them," he said.
Asked for his comments on slower bowlers making an impact in the tournament so far, Nehra said more than that it depends on the type of wicket the match is being played.
"It depends where you are playing and what kind of situation you are in, because T20 is such of kind of format where the wicket definitely plays a big role. In Nagpur and Kolkata, slow bowlers came into play, and the match between England and South Africa saw sea of runs," he said.
Nehra also defended his Delhi teammate Shikhar Dhawan and Suresh Raina for not doing well in the last two games.
"They didn't score in last two to three innings, and that is why you are asking this question, but before the WT20 tournament Shikar played a wonderful knock in the Asia Cup final which won him man of the match, and somebody like Rohit Sharma also has performed well," he said.
"You cannot judge players on the basis of two to three innings because there is pressure on both batsmen and bowlers. It is a difficult format," he said.
On the absence of suspended Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny from the Bangladesh squad, Nehra said their absence does not reduce the bowling firepower of the opposition.
Asked to comment on Mustafizur Rahman, Nehra said, "He is a gifted player, especially he has a very good slow ball. He is very good prospect for ODI and T20, and the good thing is he plays for my IPL team."
