Ashish Nehra (1999-2017): The journey in pictures

After the World Cup, injuries started to surface for Nehra

The emergence of Irfan Pathan came as a sudden jolt to Nehra, who was just cementing his spot after the World Cup. On their tour to Australia, and subsequently Pakistan, Pathan featured in the team and impressed everyone with his raw pace and banana swing. With Zaheer also amongst the ranks, a trio of three-left arm pacers would have unbalanced the Indian side.

Post the World Cup, the expectations rose enormously for Nehra

Nehra still played his part: although the pressure of expectations rose enormously after his Durban destruction, he was effective in the initial overs and reliable at the death. The cliffhanger against Pakistan reaffirmed that he could be banked upon when the pressure was high.

Nehra played his last Test at Rawalpindi in 2004

All this while, his Test career kept plummeting. With serious questions about his body being able to withstand the rigours of white-ball cricket, the selectors pushed Pathan up the pecking order. Nehra got to play only 17 Tests, the last of which was against Pakistan at Rawalpindi.

2005 was one of Nehra's most prolific years

In 2004 and 2005, he featured in tours to England, Sri Lanka and South Africa, and got a place in the side for the home series against Pakistan. Incidentally, 2005 was one of his most prolific years, with the cherry on the cake being his figures of 6-59 against Sri Lanka in the Indian Oil Cup finals. In the process, he became the first Indian bowler to take two six-fers in ODIs, a feat that still holds.

In 2005, Nehra became the only Indian to take two six-fers in ODIs

Under Greg Chappell, a fresh set of pacers found their way into the Indian side, making the pool of fast bowling enormous: Munaf Patel, VRV Singh, RP Singh and later, Ishant Sharma, were all tried. Struggling with poor form and fitness, Nehra had to make way: the final nail in the coffin was when he tore a ligament in his ankle during a net session. For the next three years and 294 days, he didn't get to play for India.