10 facts about Ashish Nehra

On this 38th birthday, Sehwag referred to Nehra as the 'Bheesma Pitamah of Indian cricket.'

4. Only Indian to take six wickets in ODIs twice

Six wickets do not come easy in One-Day cricket and if you thought Nehra s spell against England was just a one-off wonder, it was not. In 2005, against Sri Lanka in Colombo, Nehra took six wickets again, this time 6 for 59.

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5. Represented five teams in IPL

Nehra has played for five teams in IPL. In the inaugural edition, he was with Mumbai Indians and for the next two seasons, he was with Delhi Daredevils. In 2011 and 2012, he was with Pune Warriors, again followed by another season with Delhi Daredevils. In 2014, he was picked up by Chennai Super Kings. From 2016 onward, he has been with Sunrisers Hyderabad.

6. Comeback and IPL triumph

Nehra stunned the cricket world when he made a comeback in the Australia tour, in 2015-16. India had a glorious run in T20Is post his return to the side. India beat Australia 3-0, won the Asia Cup and made it to the semi-final of the World T20 2016. Since his comeback, Nehra has played in 18 ODIs, claimed 21 wickets at 21.67. His economy rate reads 7.22.

Later in 2016, Nehra starred in Sunrisers Hyderabad's IPL triumph. He played 8 matches, claimed 9 wickets at 22.11 at an economy rate of 7.65 before getting injured.

7. N for Nehra. N for Nokia

Nehra is a huge hit on social media but the pacer is unaware of the fact. He once famously told the press.

You are asking this question to a wrong person because I am somebody who is not on social media. I am still using my old Nokia; so I am not on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. I don t read newspapers. Maybe I belong to the old school of thought, Nehra told reporters during the India and Bangladesh ahead of their ICC World T20 clash.

Later Nehra told that he is learning WhatsApp.

8. Reliable death bowler

Though Nehra is most remembered for his last over against South Africa in the World Cup 2011 in Nagpur, where Robin Peterson took the required 13 from the over, it s a wrong notion that the bowler has most often let the side down. He has been a butt of jokes since then but time and again, Nehra has proved to be a brilliant death bowler. In 2004, against Pakistan at Karachi, Nehra defended nine off the last over with an in-form Moin Khan and Naved-ul-Hasan at the crease. Pakistan were chasing 350.

Again in 2009, chasing a massive 414, Sri Lanka needed 11 from the last over with Angelo Mathews going strong. Nehra bowled a seven-run over (which was less than their innings run rate).

Even in the 2011 World Cup semi-final against Pakistan, Nehra ended up with the figures of 10-0-33-2 the best bowling figures by any Indian bowler in the contest.

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Despite his brilliance, he was ignored by national selections. When asked about the snub, Nehra had famously said, "I don't know what has happened. Whether it is my face, I don't know. I'm happy that my wife likes my face."

9. Involved in a pub brawl?

In 2010, during the World Twenty20 Championship, it was reported that Nehra and five other Indian cricketers were involved in a pub brawl. A section of fans told the players that it was disappointing to see them party after their poor on-field performances. Comments like these are believed to have instigated Nehra, and led to a scuffle. However, the players and Nehra denied any such incident.

10. When Nehra the batsman won it for India

Nehra is not known for his batting, in fact, early in his career, he struggled with the bat but once when it mattered, he hit the winning runs for India. The 2002-03 tour of India to New Zealand was disastrous for the hosts. They had lost both the Tests and then the first four ODIs. In the sixth ODI at Auckland, Indian were again nine down and Nehra, who was strike hit the winning runs. It came as a big surprise to all the Indian fans, but of course, a pleasant one.