Ashish Nehra: I can crank it up to 140 plus in T20s

Every time critics have written him off, Ashish Nehra has made a comeback. Known for his propensity to injuries far too often, there's hardly anyone who has kept going the way Nehra has, even at the astonishing age of 38. And on top of that, he constantly clocks around 138 Kmph in the shortest format of the game and feels that he can hit 140 plus too.

"At my age (he will be 38 next month), I am still a fast bowler. I was never the conventional 125-128 kmph bowler. Even today with the new ball, I set myself a target of bowling 138 Kmph and I have to do that. Speed is not everything but if need be I can crank it up to 140 plus in T20s also," Nehra told PTI in an interview.

The Delhi left-arm pacer has seen his role change over time and now apart from his own bowling he has also been mentoring the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the Indian team set-up. Nehra insisted that he feels a sense of responsibility as a senior cricketer, more than the pressure of playing at cricket’s top-level.

"If anyone says that he doesn't feel pressure at international level is lying. But at this stage of my career more than pressure, I feel a sense of responsibility as a senior cricketer -- to help young bowlers with inputs. Me and MS are two guys from different age groups. Our job is to bring a sense of calmness, our experience in this team," Nehra said.

Asked about his chances of playing until 2019 World Cup, he said, "2019 is too far away and I can't play that far at my age even though I never planned when I was young. Even MS Dhoni who is two years younger to me may not be thinking that far ahead.

"Right now, I am preparing for IPL since Delhi hasn't qualified for Hazare Trophy. Then there's the Champions Trophy."

Asked how much white ball cricket has evolved since the time he made his debut more than 15 years ago, Nehra said amidst all the changes, the basics of fast-bowling remain the same even now.

"Obviously, with rule changes, the game has evolved but basics of fast bowling remain the same. You can bowl as many yorkers or slower deliveries. But you have to bowl an outswinger, inswinger and one straight delivery. In India, normally a tear-away quick faces problems with variations and ones who have variation are medium pacers to say the least."