Nehra an unsung hero : Bajji

Ashish Nehra is one of the less talked Indians who can turn around a game, says Bajji.

Himself a game changer and a mercurial off-spinner, Bajji feels that India has many matchwinners.

"Good thing is everyone in this team has won matches for us in recent times. So India is in business even with its last men."

Nehra won the game for India in a WC match against England, devastating England with a 6-23, the third best performance in the WC, after Gary Gilmour's 6-14 & Bichel's 7/20. ( Bond's 6-23 against the Kangaroos was also another great spell ).

He is the most unnderrated player. "Ashish shares the new ball, bowls in middle overs and is economical even in slog overs. He has picked up 59 wickets in the last two years in ODIs and it's no joke. His wicket of AB de Villiers in Johannesburg turned the tide in our favour. Yet nobody talks about him."

Such indifference and ignorance on the part of his critics do not shock Bajji. It keeps the lesser known forces of India in great shape, as it give less pressure on them.

"Personally for me, the high is to turn out in Indian jersey. That some critics have made a career out of criticising me doesn't upset me now".

"These purists don't realise that flighting the ball isn't such a clever idea now. You have men like AB de Villiers, Mahela Jayawardene and Younis Khan who would send a flighted delivery soaring into the orbit.

"You need to plan against batsmen, tailor yourself to situations and conditions. You need to know why the length on Indian pitches need to be fuller, why a little short of length on foreign pitches can aid your bounce.

"Give me some credit for knowing how to spin a ball. I am nearing 400 Test wickets," said the Indian No 8.