Ashish Nehra, the 38-year-old Indian pacer, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Thursday (October 12). He will bow out from the international scene after the first T20 International against New Zealand which is set to be played at his home ground at the Feroz Shah Kotla on November 1.
“I have spoken to the team management as well as the chairman of the selection committee. It can’t get bigger than getting to retire in front of your home crowd,” Nehra told journalists in Hyderabad ahead of the third T20I against Australia.
Ashish Nehra to bid adieu to International Cricket on November 1 in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/Cl9AfOapHK
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 12, 2017
It's always good to retire when people are asking Why rather than Why Not? – Ashish Nehra on his retirement pic.twitter.com/Uacvs17Z8S
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 12, 2017
And now with ICC not slotting any World T20 in 2018, Nehra apparently told the team management that it is only fair that performing juniors have a longer rope.
Its my own decision and once I retire from International Cricket, I will not play in the IPL as well – Ashish Nehra pic.twitter.com/TLCKp28cNc
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 12, 2017
Nehra has so far played 17 Tests, 120 ODIs and 26 T20 Internationals for India. He has picked 44 Test wickets, besides 157 ODI and 34 T20 scalps.
The left-arm pacer is often the subject of social media jokes and memes. However, as soon as the news of his retirement trickled, cricket fans on Twitter turned emotional.
Here are some of the best tweets:
So after 1st Nov, BCCI will be Lacking teeth in the bowling department. Legend Ashish Nehra will be missed. #IndvNZ #IndvsNZt20
— Prabhu (@Cricprabhu) October 11, 2017
One cannot make a comeback at the age of 40 unless he is #Nehraji will be missed#Ashishnehra
— Divyansh Sharma (@divyansh471) October 11, 2017
#NehraJi
The legendary bowler for whome the bats can salute before delivering the ball..!!
We miss you #AshishNehra— Goutham Reddy (@GovthamReddy) October 12, 2017
Shall miss you #Nehraji, my last bit of 90s is gone 🙁 #Ashishnehra #nehra
— Amritomoy Chatterjee (@TheBeingMan) October 11, 2017
Nehraji has some unbelievable comebacks…a true player. a gifted cricketer. #Nehraji with Respect.
— Jeet Chakraborty (@jeetcc) October 11, 2017
We'll miss you and your airplane celebration, #NehraJi!
— Asif Khan (@_asif) October 11, 2017
We Miss you #NehraJi ! @virendersehwag pic.twitter.com/BQ0FrSc2z7
— Sakthi VJ (@imsakthi5) October 12, 2017
https://twitter.com/rkumarrai96/status/918423772801122304
Only player in the cricket world today is #NehraJi, who can comeback at any age and play for the country.Fantastic bowlr n an amazing player
— Rahul Shrivas (@imRshrivas) October 12, 2017
Ashish Nehra will retire after the NZ series. Post-retirement, Ashish will write his autobiography titled "My experiments with tooth".
— Karan Talwar (@BollywoodGandu) October 11, 2017
