Debasis Sen, Kolkata: It was like a re-union for former India bowler Ashish Nehra today at Eden Gardens. The Delhi pacer, who recently retired from International cricket was seen having a chat with the Indian bowlers on Friday, before the second day’s play of the first test match at Eden Gardens. Nehra, who is making his debut in commentary box in this test match was asked by the Indian bowling coach Bharat Arun to share his inputs to the Indian bowlers. But the man himself on being asked laughed away on being asked about the interaction.
“That was nothing to do with me giving any tips to them. When I was on the camera they were all laughing. I was in my suit and Bharat Arun was also there. We all were having a laugh about my new role.”
Nehra like many others in the commentary box was surprised with the greenish wicket at the Eden Gardens.
“I don’t remember to be honest on playing on such a wicket in the sub-continent. May be the wicket in Nagpur where Dale Steyn ripped through our batting line up few years back could come close . It’s all because of the rain there is more moisture on the wicket. I reckon after two or three sessions if the sun comes out it would be a good wicket to bat. The seam and bounce we are looking at is all because of the moisture on the wicket. Here it is not swing but seam. Batsmen would have countered the swing but seam. The bowler himself doesn’t know whether it is coming in or going out. You cannot pick anything out of the hand. Like the one that Lakmal got Virat out. It pitched and came in. It would have been the same had we bowled first as well. We would have got them out for 50-60 run,” said Nehra to xtratime.in
On being asked whether this is the best bowling attack that India has at the moment, Nehra said, “ Surely it is one of the best attacks we have at the moment. Ishant is sitting out along with Jasprit Bumrah. We have good pool of good five or six fast bowlers. The kind of cricket we are playing in the next 18 months we need a pool of fast bowlers in test cricket and in other two formats as well.
Whether it is a good practice for the Indian team to play on such surfaces before they head to South Africa later this year, Nehra said, “I doubt you will get such a wicket there. In South Africa the cookabura balls bounce a lot more than seam or swing. Once it happened where we won in Jo’burg under similar conditions. If the conditions are like this in South Africa it will be good for us.”
Lastly talking about his new role with long time friend and teammate Virender Sehwag, Nehra said, “Viru and I share our friendship since a long time. It is a different experience and I am getting used to the long hours sitting in the commentary box.”