Top 5 spells by Ashish Nehra in international cricket

Nehra's 18-year international career is set to end.
Nehra's 18-year international career is set to end.

A lanky pacer brought up in Delhi, Ashish Nehra possesses all the traits of a genuine left-arm pacer. He made his Test debut in 1999 in Sri Lanka and ODI debut in 2001 in Zimbabwe. Very early in his international career, Nehra became one of the most promising new-ball bowlers in the world, but failed to establish himself as injuries and inconsistency kept pulling him down.

For a bowler who has had 12 surgeries, it’s always difficult to motivate oneself to return, but Nehra made several comebacks to the Indian team, proving his worth almost on every occasion. At 36, when he made a return to the T20I side which toured Australia, it took the world by surprise.

But his performances were as good as anyone, turning out to be one of the best bowlers of the World T20 in 2016. He again made a comeback to the T20 squad recently, but is set to retire after the T20 game against New Zealand on his home ground – Delhi on November 1.

We look at 5 best spells bowled by Nehra in his international career.


#5 3/23 & 2/77 vs Zimbabwe (Bulawayo - 2001)

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Nehra took 12 wickets in 2 Tests on his first international tour.

India toured Zimbabwe in 2001 for a two-match Test series and a tri-series following it. It had been 15 years since India had won a Test outside the subcontinent and the opportunity was ripe to end the winless streak.

A 22-year-old Nehra was on his first tour and was playing just his second international game. He bowled brilliantly in the first innings, taking 3/23 to help India skittle out Zimbabwe for 173. This set-up the match nicely for the visitors, as they went on to gain a handy 145-run lead. Even though Nehra had to toil a bit in the second innings, he picked up the key wickets of Dion Ebrahim and Andy Flower, who had looked in good touch.

In that series, Nehra bowled brilliantly, swinging the ball at pace and troubling the Zimbabwean batsmen. His spells in the first Test helped India end the 15-year wait.

#4 2/33 vs Pakistan (Mohali – 2011 World Cup)

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Nehra was in top form in the semi-final against Pakistan.

Post June 2009, Nehra was slowly taking up the role of the spearhead in ODIs, with Zaheer Khan in and out of the team due to injuries. He had also cemented his place in the ODI set-up in the lead up to the 2011 World Cup, although he managed to play only three games in the mega-event.

After a poor game against South Africa, Nehra was included in the XI for the all-important semi-final clash against arch-rivals Pakistan. Defending a par score of 260, Nehra might not have picked up early wickets, but he stemmed the run-flow, giving away only 33 runs in his quota of 10 overs, eventually picking up 2 wickets. His spell came during a critical stage when India were looking to put a lid on the scoring rate and wickets were not easy to come by. A spell of 2/33 in 10 overs was just what India needed from one of their most experienced bowlers.

# 3/28 vs England (Nagpur - 2017)

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Nehra and Bumrah were brilliant in India's defense of 145.

Ashish Nehra had made a successful return to international cricket in January 2016 and had become one of the most reliable bowlers for India. He was also India’s most successful bowler in the World T20 in 2016. After the event, however, he hadn’t played much owing to injury.

In January 2017, he was picked again for the T20Is against England. Defending a below-par 145, Ashish Nehra gave India a positive start, removing both openers off consecutive deliveries in the fourth over to leave England at 22/2. His first spell figures read 2-0-7-2, as he bowled brilliantly with the new ball, putting pressure on the England batsmen.

He returned to bowl in the 17th over, with England requiring 32 runs in the last four. He gave away only 4 runs and picked up the prized scalp of Ben Stokes, who was cruising along nicely till then.

Bumrah defended eight off the final over to hand India a memorable win. Yet, it was Nehra’s four-over spell that set it up for India to square the series 1-1.

#2 6/59 vs Sri Lanka (Colombo - 2005)

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Nehra was the only Indian bowler to enter the wickets column

In the final of the Indian Oil Cup, India faced Sri Lanka, who opted to bat first after winning the toss in the all-important clash. On a flat track where bowlers struggled to pick wickets, Nehra showcased his talent, picking up six wickets (becoming the only Indian to take two six-wicket hauls in ODIs).

He was the go-to bowler that day, as most other leaked runs, being right on the money in every spell. Even in the death, when Sri Lanka were placed well at 247/5 after 45 overs and 300 was on the cards, Nehra helped India pull things back nicely, finishing with 6/59.

He was also the lone wicket-taker for India in the final as Sri Lanka posted 281/9, the rest of the Lankans getting dismissed to run-outs. Despite India losing the final by 18 runs, Nehra was the best bowler from either side.

#1 6/23 vs England (Durban – 2003 World Cup)

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Nehra was on a roll in his unchanged 10-over spell.

By the time the 2003 World Cup came around, Ashish Nehra's career had reached a crossroads of sorts. It had been only four years since his international debut and two years after his ODI debut, but inconsistency and injuries had forced him down the pecking order in India's list of pace-bowlers.

India went into the league clash against England in Durban on the verge of qualifying for the Super Six. Defending just 250, Javagal Srinath and Zaheer Khan had done some early damage, as England were reduced to 18/2 in seven overs. Ganguly then brought Nehra into the attack in the thirteenth over: what followed was a brilliant spell of fast bowling.

Coming over the wicket, Nehra bowled at a good pace (over 140 kmph), moving the ball both ways. He cramped the batsmen for room and never allowed them to free their arms. Despite suffering from a swollen ankle, Nehra bowled 10 overs unchanged, picking up 6/23, completely bamboozling the English batsmen. Five out of his six wickets were caught behind (keeper or slips), indicating that his line and length was impeccable.

The spell guided India to an emphatic 82-run win.

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Edited by Aadya Sharma