WT20: I am enjoying bowling upfront, says Ashish Nehra

Ahead of today's clash against Bangladesh, India's senior pacer Ashish Nehra says he's been working hard on providing important breakthroughs after his comeback

Bangalore: The sight of Ashish Nehra sweating it out at nets yesterday masked the fact he is 36. The Delhi man was an active presence at bowling nets, fielding session and catch practice. He did not forgot to pass on a few tips to young pacer Jaspreet Bumrah either.

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Ashish Nehra bowls in the nets at Bangalore yesterday. Pic/PTI

Nehra was palpably enjoying his second life in international cricket to the hilt. Nehra made his return to top-flight cricket during the T20Is against Australia earlier this year. Since then the senior paceman has been on a roll. In the 12 T20Is he has played, Nehra has made an early impact in 11 matches, taking at least one wicket in the Powerplays.

"I am enjoying it. This is not the first time I'm bowling two-three overs in first six overs or bowling one or two overs in last four — that's my job. Till the time I'm doing that job, it means I'm right up there, I'm doing whatever is supposed to be done. I always love to be in my team, to be in top two bowlers who can bowl upfront and bowl at death.

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'I am really happy'
"So till the time I'm doing that I'm really happy, and for that definitely I have to work really hard, and I'm trying to do that, and my job is really important," he said on the eve of India's clash against Bangladesh here yesterday.

He then went on to elaborate his role as a mentor. "We have people like Bumrah or Bhuvneshwar Kumar or Mohammed Shami. Everybody knows how talented they are. So whatever experience I have gained in the last 16-17 years, I just pass it on to them, and I'm sure it's helping them."

Nehra said he has always thought of making a comeback to international cricket, and worked towards that end. "I've been working hard for the last three-four years. I was looking forward to make a comeback. My main motive was to keep working hard. I wasn't somebody just working hard to play domestic cricket or IPL. I always train or work hard to play international cricket. That's how you make a comeback."

'Will play as long as I can'
Now that he has achieved his goal, Nehra is keen to prolong his latest stint at international cricket. "I will just try to play as long as I can, as long as my body holds up, and keep working hard, so I'm really enjoying it. Whatever responsibility captain and team management has given me, I'm just trying to do whatever best I can do." For sure, Bangladesh will have to weather the Nehra storm today.

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