Make no mistake, the joy is still the same when a batsman leans into a cover drive, but, somehow the fast bowler attracts greater attention, maybe for the sheer rarity of the craft in the country. And that was well on display on Feb 26, 2003, when India were taking on England in a crucial World Cup clash in Durban. 

The Delhi pacer, who made his debut way back in 1999 under the leadership of Mohammad Azharuddin, rose into the Indian cricketing consciousness when he helped the Indian team claim their first away Test win in 15 years in 2001. With a smooth side-on action and a well-developed late inswinger, the Delhi bowler was a promising pace prospect in world cricket and he further established his reputation following an eye-catching spell of 6 for 23 against England in the 2003 World Cup and became quite a regular fixture in the ODI side from 2001 to 2005. 

While it seemed it was the end of the road for the Delhite, Irfan Pathan's string of failures ensured another comeback four years later in 2009 for the ODI series against West Indies on the back of some solid domestic and IPL performances. Not only did he help India produce some stirring displays on his comeback, also became the second-highest wicket-taker in the world, only behind Bangladesh's Shakib al Hasan, from the time between his comeback and the 2011 World Cup.

He played three games in India's victorious World Cup campaign at home and his last game against Pakistan saw him bowl exceedingly well and take two for 33 in 10 overs, but when the team travelled to the Caribbean shore for a short limited-overs series, his name was missed from the list and it seemed his career was all but over. 

As much as his bowling, his immaculate sense of game-reading has also helped the young pacers to keep their calm under pressure. During the World T20 in 2016 and the England T20Is earlier this year, Nehra was in Japrit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya's ears about change-ups, lengths and when to apply them. A lovely demonstration of the same was there to see in the Nagpur T20I against England where Nehra was on hand to guide Bumrah and the duo successfully defended 32 from the final four overs with the veteran able to keep the opposition from getting 8 off his final over. 

Indeed. It is nice to have him back. How often do you see an Indian pacer makes a point to prove himself at the age of 38? "Nehraji" has proved that he is a rare and precious commodity in Indian cricket and on yet another comeback to the national squad, I could only recall a conversation with him during this year's Vijay Hazare Trophy in Cuttack. When I asked him, What keeps you going at this age? "Cricket" came the reply with a cheeky grin. True. Who can doubt that fact now? 

But, of course, there is more to Nehra than just that late outswinger, a terrific slower one, and the ability to take the ball away from the right-hand batsman with ease. An individual needs immeasurable amount of confidence and guts to keep himself motivated for two decades despite going through the fast-bowling occupational hazard - injuries more than anyone else. That he is still good enough to be picked in the best XI in the country is a statement by itself and by large, it is also one of the more remarkable stories in Indian cricketing history.