 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Former India fast bowler Ashish Nehra seems to be relishing his new role as the commentator.
Nehra retired from cricket earlier this month before he immediately signed up as the commentator for the ongoing Sri Lanka's tour of India.
He made his debut behind the mic for Star Sports during the first Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, where he also got a chance to catch up with his former team mates VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag, who have been doing commentary for a while now.
Ahead of start of play on Day 2, Nehra was also seen having a chat with India's bowlers including Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja. The young fast bowlers were seen listening keenly and soaking in all the information coming from the veteran fast bowler.
The 38-year-old pacer bid adieu to competitive cricket after the first T20 International against New Zealand in front of his home crowd at the Feroz Shah Kotla on November 1.
"I don't know what will come next. I haven't sat down and decide what to do next. Maybe it will be coaching or maybe it will be commentary," Nehra had said when asked about his future plans.
Asked about the fast bowling scene in world cricket at the moment, the left-arm pacer spoke about the impact of conditions and how difficult it has become for bowlers.
"I will say if you are bowling well, and at the top of your game, you can still deliver. Whether in T20 or One-day you can see people like Jasprit Bumrah or (Kagiso) Rabada or Bhuvneshwar Kumar or Jimmy Anderson in Test cricket.
"Rules have definitely changed. Earlier days a team would score 200 runs (in ODIs), then 250 then 300 and now two new balls are used from both ends. It's very difficult for a spinner also with five fielders inside the circle.
"If you make it one new ball then this 350 will come down to 320-310, make five fielders stand outside the circle and it will come down to 280," he had said after his retirement.